Morning Briefing:
Rosie vs. Trump, Round 1: In the wake of this week's Miss USA scandal/public show of forgiveness, Rosie O'Donnell went on a rant against Donald Trump on Wednesday's episode of "The View," calling him a "snake-oil salesman" after he announced he would let the hard-drinkin' new Miss USA keep her crown. Questioning Trump's role as the moral arbiter in the case, O'Donnell said: "[He] left the first wife -- had an affair. [He] had kids both times, but he's the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America. Donald, sit and spin, my friend." She went on to say that Trump had once gone bankrupt (which he denies) and that he was "not a self-made man." Trump fired back, saying he plans to sue over her remarks. "You can't make false statements," Trump told People. "Rosie will rue the words she said. I'll most likely sue her for making those false statements -- and it'll be fun. Rosie's a loser. A real loser. I look forward to taking lots of money from my nice fat little Rosie." (People)
More Regan accusations: The anti-Semitic allegations against recently fired scandal-publisher Judith Regan keep coming in. Two unnamed "publishing insiders" tell Rush & Molloy they often heard Regan referring to Jews as "rodents." "I heard her say it multiple times," one of the sources told the columnists. "She thought Jews looked or acted like rats. She called them 'rodentia.'" The New York Times reports another bizarre incident -- two top HarperCollins execs confirmed for the paper that Regan was reprimanded by her employers three years ago "after an editor complained that she had boasted of removing the scrolls from her neighbors' mezuzas and replacing them with torn pieces from dollar bills." Regan's lawyer, Bert Fields, says, "She unequivocally denies saying any such thing. She never called Jews rodents or said they looked like rodents. It's absolutely false. It's a lie." As for the story about the mezuzas, he says, "it's absurd." (Rush & Molloy, N.Y. Times)
More Madonna marriage rumors: There has been speculation ever since Madonna adopted baby David earlier this year that her wish for more adopted children was a source of tension between her and her hubby, Guy Ritchie. In the most recent flare-up, Guy's dad, John, told London's Daily Mail: "They've had a difficult time. [David] is beautiful and Guy is very good with him. But I don't think he'd want to adopt again." The paper also reports that the couple was overheard bickering at dinner a few weeks ago, writing that "diners overheard Ritchie attacking the singer for being 'so controlling' while she appeared troubled as she played with her food." (Daily Mail via Page Six)
Also:
In the year's most understated celebrity nuptials, Lara Flynn Boyle and her businessman boyfriend, Donald Ray Thomas, got hitched in San Antonio over the weekend in a $36 wedding (the price of the marriage license) at the county clerk's office, followed by a low-key backyard ceremony with friends. (TMZ) ... Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy's new album, "The Inspiration," debuted at No. 1 on the charts with 352,000 copies sold last week, while "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks' eponymous record slid in at No. 2, selling 298,000 copies and making it the fifth-biggest debut from an "AI" alum, after Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood and fellow Season 5 competitor Chris Daughtry. (Variety) ... "Lost" star Evangeline Lilly's rented home in Hawaii was burned to the ground in an as-yet-unexplained fire Wednesday -- no one was injured, and Lilly's rep says the actress was on set when the blaze occurred. (People) ... Arista Records, Warner Bros. Records, Capitol Records and Universal Music Group all filed suit in New York on Wednesday against the Russian MP3 download site AllofMP3.com, which they allege is selling music without their permission. (BBC News) ... Kevin Federline announced this week he'll further amuse the world by "fighting" WWE champ John Cena in a wrestling bout on New Year's Day. In his "Monday Night Raw" appearance to publicize the fight, Federline said, "Oh yeah, Cena, my name is not K-Fed, it's Kevin Federline, bitch, and I want some and I'm gonna get some." (The Superficial)
Turn On:
Let the seasonal programming continue -- Thursday night brings "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" (TBS, 10 p.m. EST), "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (CBS, 8 p.m. EST) and British comedians Jennifer Saunders -- one-half of "Absolutely Fabulous" -- and Dawn French with "French and Saunders Christmas Celebrity Special" (BBC America, 11 p.m. EST).
On the Talk Shows:
Larry King (CNN, 9 p.m. EST): Frank James
Charlie Rose (PBS, check local listings): An hour with George Clooney
David Letterman (CBS, 11:30 p.m. EST): Tom Brokaw, Cold War Kids
Jay Leno (NBC, 11:35 p.m. EST): Matthew McConaughey, Opie and Anthony, the Killers
Conan O'Brien (NBC, 12:35 a.m. EST): Ewan McGregor, Jordana Spiro, predatory animal expert Manny Puig
Craig Ferguson (CBS, 12:35 a.m. EST): Samuel L. Jackson, Max Brooks, Hinder
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC, 12:05 a.m. EST): Sylvester Stallone, Gnarls Barkley
Jon Stewart (Comedy Central, 11 p.m. EST): Ed Viesturs (repeat)
Stephen Colbert (Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. EST): Francis S. Collins (repeat)
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