Morning Briefing:
Creepy Katie: Katie Holmes has given a creepy, creepy interview to W magazine, in which she stares into space and answers pretty much any question put to her with pat phrases like "I've found the man of my dreams," "I've never met anyone like Tom," and "Tom is the most incredible man in the world." "This is how the conversation begins; this is also how it continues, and how it ends. No question can do much to change its course," writes Robert Haskell in W's August issue. At one point during the interview, her new "best friend" and Scientology minder Jessica Rodriguez jumps in to adds, of Holmes' feelings for Cruise, "You adore him" -- and to condemn people who speculate that the whole Holmes/Cruise thing is just a sham, calling them "just rude" and gushing "Have you ever been in love? You just want to share it with the world." At another point, Holmes is brought a gift from Cruise, a Chanel diamond necklace that prompts her to, yes, jump up on the furniture and shout, "He's my man! He's my man!" She then announces that she can "do splits too," and demonstrates, adding, "I love him." (W)
On a related note ... Radar magazine reports that "Ever since [Keri] Russell scored her plum supporting role in 'Mission Impossible III,' we hear, the 'Felicity' alumna has 'suddenly become very interested' in co-star Tom Cruise's much-mocked religion -- and is excited to learn more from the master. She's even been spotted buying books on Scientology and visiting the sect's L.A. Celebrity Center, sources say." (Radar Online)
To the rescue! It took four superheroes to do it, but the Great Hollywood Slump of 2005 appears to be over -- for now, anyway. Following 19 weekends in which domestic box-office revenues were well below box-office returns for the same weekends in 2004, the film "Fantastic Four" raked in $56 million in its first three days in release and ended the losing run. And collectively, the weekend's 12 best-grossing movies took in an estimated $141 million, up 2.25 percent from last year. (Associated Press)
Sad lesson: Maggie Gyllenhaal, who got slammed in the media a few months back for saying that the United States was "responsible in some way" for the 9/11 attacks, says she's now sworn off talking politics in interviews altogether. The response to her comments taught her "that neither the red carpet nor an interview about a movie is the right place to talk about my politics. I realize I have to be careful, because it's very easy to misunderstand a complicated thought in a complicated world," the actress told the New York Daily News in an interview that ran over the weekend. "I was so surprised by the way [my comment] was misunderstood, and the disdain that came back at me was a real shock. I regret what I said, but I think my intentions were good." (N.Y. Daily News via the Associated Press)
Also: Prosecutors in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial asked the Los Angeles police department to look into a quid pro quo deal between Jackson and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe after Rowe, called by the prosecution to testify against Jackson during the trial, surprised everyone by testifying for the pop star. But the LAPD found no evidence of double-dealing on Rowe's part. (N.Y. Post) ... The minor league baseball team in Jennifer Garner's hometown, Charleston, W.Va., held a big baby shower for the pregnant actress and her new husband, Ben Affleck. The 410 gifts donated by the team's fans will be sent directly to charity rather than given to the celebrity couple, who did not attend. (Associated Press) ... France's minister of culture presented Patti Smith with the insignia of Commander of the Order of the Arts and Letters on Sunday, hailing her as "one of the most influential artists in women's rock 'n' roll." (Associated Press) ... Marianne Faithfull reportedly recently suffered a heart attack, preventing her from taking a role in a new screen version of Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" that ultimately went to Nastassia Kinski. Faithfull is said to be "fine now." (Page Six) ... Madonna's Kabbalah-themed children's books were reportedly all written by Eitan Yardeni, the preferred ghostwriter of Kabbalah movement bigwigs. (Page Six) ... Season 2 "Apprentice" Kelly Perdew reportedly so pissed off the organizers of the Young Republican National Convention with his demands for first-class travel and limos that they disinvited him from the convention, at which he was supposed to emcee a big dinner, at the last minute. (Page Six) ... The man accused of plotting to kidnap David Letterman's toddler son and nanny has reportedly reached a plea deal in the case. (Associated Press)
Money Quotes:
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, speaking at the Aspen Institute's Aspen Ideas Festival, on President Bush's policies: "I sometimes feel that Alfred E. Neuman is in charge in Washington ... 'What, me worry?'" (Associated Press)
The hostile message Marc Anthony is said to have scrawled on a piece of paper for a charity auction of celebrity doodles sponsored W Hotels: "F--- YOU!" (Lloyd Grove's Lowdown)
Kurt Vonnegut on who he'd like to see on the Supreme Court: "I'm all for Judge Judy for the Supreme Court. I don't want any other judges, just her. She is so fair-minded and so ideally American." (Lloyd Grove's Lowdown)
Turn On:
On Monday night, CBS brings you the series premiere of "Rock Star: INXS" (9 p.m. EDT), in which the band INXS searches for a new lead singer to replace the late Michael Hutchence.
-- Amy Reiter
Bookmark The Fix here. To send a hot tip to The Fix, click here.
Shares