Morning Briefing:
What's eating Crowe? Russell Crowe apparently doing his level best to revive that bad boy reputation of his. First he refused to show up for scheduled junket interviews with the press this week, after reading the not-so-good reviews of "Cinderella Man" in the New York papers. (Director Ron Howard and costars Renée Zellweger and Paul Giamatti managed to do their press interviews, as scheduled.) And now news is breaking that in Monday's wee hours -- around 4:20 a.m. -- the actor was arrested at a New York hotel and charged with second-degree assault, after he allegedly threw a telephone at a hotel employee during an argument, hitting the employee in the face. In related news, "Cinderella Man" did fairly dismally at the box office in its first week, taking in $18.6 million and landing in the No. 4 slot. (Associated Press, Page Six, N.Y. Post)
Jackson update: True, Michael Jackson's trip to the emergency room over the weekend for treatment of the back problem that has apparently dogged him throughout his child-molestation trial may mean yet another onslaught of "Jacko's backo" headlines. ("It's pretty serious," his spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, said of the singer's latest health issue, adding her client is "under a tremendous amount of stress right now, [but] other than his back, he is doing fine.") But, alas, what it likely won't mean is a repeat of Jackson's infamous mid-trial pajama-and-slippers-clad courtroom shuffle. Since the jury got the case on Friday and deliberations have begun in earnest, Jackson will not need to reappear in court until the jurors reach a verdict. Once they do come to a decision, Jackson will have an hour to appear, which should give him just enough time to toss on a pair of pants and shoes. (Associated Press, N.Y. Daily News, N.Y. Post)
Shields delivers Cruise bruisin': Brooke Shields is lashing back at Tom Cruise after the actor lit into her for taking Paxil to combat the crippling postpartum depression that gripped her following the birth of her daughter, Rowan. Not only did Shields call Cruise's Scientology-inspired anti-drug comments "irresponsible" and "dangerous," she also told People magazine that Cruise should "stick to saving the world from aliens." But then she made a peace offering -- well, sort of. "If he wants to see [the musical] "Chicago" [in which she's starring in London], I've left him two tickets -- one adult, one child": a swipe at Cruise's girlfriend Katie Holmes' being 16 years his junior, of course. Holmes, by the way, is now reportedly showing up to press interviews surrounded by "an entourage of Scientologists," including Cruise's sister/publicist, Lee Anne DeVette. (ContactMusic.com, People via Chicago Tribune, Page Six)
Kick lines: Even if you didn't watch the Tony Awards last night, you likely know by now that "Spamalot," the musical for Monty Python fans, won big last night, taking home three Tonys, including best musical and best director of a musical (Mike Nichols). John Patrick Shanley's "Doubt" took in four awards, including best play. And the musical "The Light in the Piazza" raked in six awards. But what about who said what? Here are a few of the best quotes from the stage at the star-studded proceedings, courtesy of Broadway.com. And more can be found here:
"In light of recent events, I have a confession to make. I am the son of 'Deep Throat.' And like the Washington Post exposé, I too was conceived in a parking garage." -- Nathan Lane, who presented an award
"I am thrilled to be here and I also have an announcement: I too am head-over-heels in love with Katie Holmes. I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love." -- Billy Crystal, who collected the Tony for best special theatrical event for his one-man show, "700 Sundays"
"I congratulate the winners. And my love to those who have not won tonight. I just remind you of my motto: Cheer up. Life isn't everything." -- Mike Nichols, who took home the best director award for "Spamalot"
(Broadway.com)
Also: The animated film "Madagascar" raked in $28.7 million in its second weekend, ousting "Star Wars" from the top box office slot it had held for two weeks. In fact, "Star Wars" tumbled all the way to third place; Adam Sandler's "The Longest Yard," also in its second week of release, edged it out for second place. (Associated Press) ... Outrage over the lack of black performers in Bob Geldof's London Live 8 show, to raise money to combat disease and poverty in Africa, may result in protests. (Gigwise.com, The Independent) ... Bob Woodward has said that, unlike Carl Bernstein and Ben Bradlee, who insist they'd never revealed Deep Throat's identity to their wives or ex-wives, he did tell his wife, Elsa Walsh. "We have a relationship of total trust," Woodward told CNN's Larry King. "And this was such a part of my life, I just shared, and she obviously kept the secret also." ("Larry King Live" via Lloyd Grove's Lowdown) ... OK! Magazine has reportedly offered Paris Hilton and Paris Latsis $2 million for exclusive rights to publish photos of their wedding. (Rush & Molloy) ... Oh, and Audiofile fans might want to check out this interview with Salon's resident music expert, Thomas Bartlett, a musician in his own right, whose band, Doveman, has just released its first album, "The Acrobat." (betterPropaganda)
Turn On:
Finally, on Monday night, the moment you've been waiting for: the return of HBO's "Six Feet Under" (9 p.m. EDT). And for those poor souls without premium cable, ABC offers a new reality show, "The Scholar" (8 p.m. EDT), about 10 outstanding students competing for a college scholarship.
-- Amy Reiter
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