Morning Briefing:
Whatever you do, don't ask Bill Paxton about oral sex: Chloe Sevigny and Bill Paxton were on "The View" yesterday to promote "Big Love," their new HBO show about a Mormon man and his many wives. Polygamy was a fine topic, but when the subject turned to oral sex, things reportedly got nasty. Co-host Joy Behar just couldn't help bringing up the blow job scene from "Brown Bunny," in which Sevigny famously got down for Vincent Gallo, but for some reason it set both the actors on edge. "Though the actors masked their fury from viewers," Rush & Molloy report, "Paxton is said to have exploded off-camera. According to one source, he even vowed never to appear on the show again." That part of the conversation had been edited out by the time "The View" aired on the West Coast. (Rush & Molloy)
Spitzer sues: New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's ongoing radio payola investigation has spawned its first lawsuit -- Spitzer is suing Entercom Communications Corp., the country's fifth-largest radio chain with 103 stations, for receiving money from record labels to promote certain songs. Entercom was named in two payola settlements made with Spitzer's office last year by Sony BMG (for $10 million) and Warner (for $5 million). "By accepting secret payments in exchange for airtime, Entercom compromised its radio programming and violated state and federal laws," Spitzer said. "What makes this case especially egregious is the extent to which senior management viewed control of the airways as an opportunity to garner illegal payment from record labels." (Hollywood Reporter)
Sawyer buzz: More rumors about Diane Sawyer's news anchor ambitions are surfacing. Fox 411's sources now say "Diane Sawyer has secured the position of anchor of the nightly ABC network news show." Sawyer is said to have been fourth in line for the job: Up first and second were the now-recovering Bob Woodruff and now-pregnant Elizabeth Vargas. Sawyer's "Good Morning America" co-host, Charlie Gibson, was the next choice, but couldn't get the contract he wanted. (Fox 411)
Also:
One possible theory for the Uma Thurman/Andre Balazs split: She wanted a wedding ring; he didn't. (Page Six) ... Taking a plea bargain at his court appearance for drug possession on Wednesday, Boy George opted for rehab and community service over jail time, and the charges against him were dropped. (Guardian) ... The city of Los Angeles has decided not to pursue charges against ex-Creed singer Scott Stapp for his public drunkenness at LAX the day after his wedding in early February. After he was picked up by police at the airport, a blood-alcohol test showed him to be at 0.18, twice the legal driving limit. (E! Online) ... The day after his wife accused him of domestic violence, David Hasselhoff pleaded no contest early Thursday to a DUI charge and was ordered to spend six months in an alcohol program. (MSNBC) ... Madonna's gotten back on a horse again for the first time since her riding accident last year -- not, of course, counting the brief televised ride she took on "The Late Show With David Letterman" last fall. (Perez Hilton)
Money Quote:
Designer Chloe Dao, after winning "Project Runway" on Wednesday night, to her competitor Santino Rice, who earlier had said she was a "brilliant pattern-maker" but a so-so designer: "I can only say that I guess you're wrong! I can't help it if I had skills, honey." (Associated Press)
Turn On:
The Sci-Fi channel revisits the nuclear paranoia of the '80s with "The Day After" (9 p.m. EST), starring Jason Robards, while BET debuts the self-explanatory reality series "Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown" (9:30 p.m. EST) and BBC America airs the Eddie Izzard mock doc "Lust for Glorious" (11 p.m. EST). Also, Neko Case performs on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" (NBC, 11:35 p.m. EST).
-- Scott Lamb
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