Retired Gen. Wesley Clark is giving interviews all around town about how he hasn't decided whether to run for president. He told CNN's Aaron Brown several times that he hasn't decided, and he told ABC's Diane Sawyer this morning that he hasn't decided. But when Sawyer asked what he thought of President Bush's May landing on an aircraft carrier in a flight suit Clark called it a "publicity stunt" and said that if he had been one of the men or women serving on that carrier he would have been "embarrassed" to see the president do such a thing. Run, Wesley, run. (CNN)
Word is that producers of the "Bridget Jones Diary" sequel are adding incentive to Renée Zellweger's diet plan. For every pound she puts on for the role (30 being the goal), they're giving her more than $100,000. That should pay for the donuts. And hey, Renee, this time leave some of it on when you're finished shooting. That starved look isn't cute. (WENN)
Say it ain't so, Jay Leno! The talk show host who made news (and ratings) having Arnold Schwarzenegger announce his candidacy for California governor on his show is now opening the floodgates. Wacky Jay says he wants to have the other 134 candidates on his show next month -- but he's putting them in the audience, not on the sofa. Quipped Leno, "And Gary Coleman, don't worry, we'll have a booster seat." (Washington Post)
First Oprah creates a rush on sales of "East of Eden," and now Brad Pitt wants to get into the act. Rumors are that the actor is talking to the John Steinbeck estate about getting rights to do a remake of the 1955 film that starred James Dean. Brad, babe -- we love you but remember four little words before you jump into this role: Julia Ormond in "Sabrina." (IMDB)
-- Karen Croft
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Totally bizarro story of the week: Courtney Love may be the granddaughter of Marlon Brando. How'dyafigure? Well, Love's mother, psychologist Linda Caroll, has revealed in her new autobiography that she is the result of an affair between Brando and her mother, author Paula Fox, who gave her up for adoption. Caroll claims to have the DNA tests to prove her biological Brando connection. Apparently surprised by her mother's disclosure, Love commented to the London Evening Standard, "I've heard Marlon Brando has more than 30 children. I can't begin to imagine how many cousins I have that I didn't even know about before." Certainly one way to look at it.
Seems Al Franken can thank Bill O'Reilly for the controversial trademark lawsuit that has pushed his book to No. 1 on Amazon's sales ranks weeks before its actual release. According to Matt Drudge, it was O'Reilly himself who pushed the Fox News suits to legally challenge Franken's book, "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right," which apparently makes particular sport of O'Reilly. "He is not going to sit by and let Franken smear the hell out of him," a "top FOX source" told Drudge.
Money Quote
Former "What's Happening!" star Fred "Rerun" Berry on his participation in "Hollywood Is Calling," a service that gets you a personal call from a faded star for a mere $19.95: "I'm not doing it for the money ... This is like curing the world." (The Washington Post)
Best of the Rest
Page Six: Alec Baldwin sued for breach of contract and fraud by former production partner; Keanu Reeves makes a cameo appearance in new Anthrax video, "Safe Home"; oil heiress Anna Getty tries to get Dolce and Gabbana to stop using fur in their designs; New Line Cinema irritated by fast disappearance of "Freddy vs. Jason" posters in NYC. Says a rep: "It's costing us thousands. Every time a poster is put up on the subway or bus stops it vanishes the next day."
Rush and Molloy: Recently divorced Robert Evans gets new blond, makeup artist Tatijana Shoan, who shows uncanny resemblance to last his blond, Versace model Leslie Ann Woodward; Sylvester Stallone's mother's dogs predict gubernatorial win for Arnold Schwarzenegger. "By a major margin," says Jacqueline Stallone. "If my dogs like him, he's in"; "Dr. Laura" Schlessinger renounces Orthodox Judaism, says Christians have been "very loving, very supportive" of her in fan mail, whereas she was "not feeling return" from her own (former) people.
Cindy Adams: Roseanne Barr is said to be feeling unwell, getting hysterectomy next Wednesday. "It's a routine procedure. Nothing major. Nothing frightening. Nothing life-threatening," her rep reassures.
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