Turn On:
Save your TV-watching energy for Saturday night, when the musical remake of the 1938 classic "Reefer Madness" takes its giddy turn on Showtime (8 p.m. EDT). The new version, which has gotten mixed reviews, stars Alan Cumming, Christian Campbell (brother of Neve, who also makes an appearance) and Kristen Bell.
Morning Briefing:
Jackson trial update: The second day of testimony from the mother of Michael Jackson's accuser was more of the same only different. On Thursday, the mother told the court that she didn't go to police to tell them that she and her family were being held hostage by Jackson and his henchmen because "who could possibly believe this?" The woman, whose new married name is Janet Jackson (no relation), showed far less emotion than she did during her appearance on Wednesday. In fact, during her return appearance she cried only once, when shown passports she claims she had been forced to get for a trip to Brazil on which she feared she and her kids would be made to "disappear." (She says she agreed to prepare her family for the trip, which they never took, only because Jackson's people had threatened to kill her parents and her boyfriend if she did not cooperate.) Friday's cross-examination promises to be a bit more exciting. According to Fox News, Jackson attorney Thomas Mesereau may take the opportunity to grill the woman about her lavish spending on Jackson's dime during the time she says she was held hostage -- and may also ask her what medication she's currently taking. (AFP, Associated Press, N.Y. Daily News, Fox News)
In other Jackson news A spokeswoman for Michael Jackson, Raymone Bain, says reports that Jackson is mulling the sale of his stake in the Beatles catalog are "not true." But Fox News gossip Roger Friedman says he's sticking by his story. (AFP. Fox News)
Rolled head writes book: Mary Mapes, the former hotshot "60 Minutes" producer who got booted from CBS for her involvement in Memogate, is writing a tell-all book, "The Other Side of the Story, " about the scandal and its aftermath, due out in November from St. Martin's Press. In the book proposal that got her a mid-six-figure advance, Mapes writes that during the post-scandal investigation, CBS President and Viacom Co-President Les Moonves, who is married to "Early Show" co-host Julie Chen, "demonstrated what has been joked about for years: that everything he knows about journalism has been sexually transmitted." Yikes. (Lloyd Grove's Lowdown)
Lizzie, home wrecker? "PoweR Girl" Lizzie Grubman is spinning like crazy to try to counteract a report yesterday that Sean John marketing executive Chris Stern is her new boyfriend. Turns out Stern is the husband of one of Grubman's employees, and that just one month ago, he asked his wife of five years, Joyce, for a separation. "Lizzie was consoling Joyce on the end of her marriage, pretending to be her friend," a source told Page Six. "Then she's out gallivanting with Joyce's husband as if it's no big deal. It's disgusting. It's despicable. How is the girl supposed to go to work?" But Grubman says it's all a big misunderstanding, insisting, "He's not my boyfriend. I don't have a boyfriend." (Page Six)
One mug shot, one happy snap: The world has just noticed that "American Pie" star Chris Klein was arrested in San Diego in February for DUI. According to the criminal complaint posted (along with the actor's mug shot) on the Smoking Gun, Klein's blood alcohol content was .20 at the time of his arrest, which is more than double the California limit of .08. He'll be arraigned later this month. Meanwhile, former child star Emmanuel Lewis got off with only a warning after he was pulled over for speeding earlier this week in rural southwestern Georgia. The officer who pulled Lewis over for driving 70 mph in a 45 mph speed zone said he recognized the diminutive former "Webster" star immediately -- and asked for an autograph and a photo. "Well, I grew up watching him and he was very nice and professional," the officer said in a TV interview following his brush with '80s fame, "so I just gave him a courtesy warning." Nice to know being Emmanuel Lewis still counts for something. (The Smoking Gun, Fox News)
Also: Sean Hannity has reportedly been caught on tape coaching "Hannity and Colmes" guests on what to say on camera and how to say it. (Harry Shearer's "Le Show" via Lloyd Grove's Lowdown) Britney Spears' husband, Kevin Federline, borrowed $10 from one of the paparazzi following him and his pregnant wife around when he discovered that he didn't have enough pocket change to spring for a couple of ice cream cones. He promised to pay the snapper back, and gave him an exclusive photo op to boot. (Rush and Molloy) During a recent appearance at a New York Best Buy to promote her new CD, "The Emancipation of Mimi," Mariah Carey was reportedly offered the use of the employee lunchroom to prepare -- and asked if the room could be painted pink to suit her. The answer was no. (Rush and Molloy) According to Razor magazine, the initials in Pamela Anderson's new company, BWFT Productions, stand for "Blonde With Fake T - - s." (Razor via Page Six) Sean "P. Diddy" Combs has announced that his Bad Boy Entertainment and Warner Music Group are embarking on a 50/50 joint venture, Bad Boy Records, which will combine his current roster of musicians and catalog with Warner's industry clout. (Money/CNN) OutKast and Rosa Parks have settled their legal dispute over the use of Parks' name in a song. The New York Times reports that "Under the settlement, the group will pay for several educational programs, including a tribute CD, and a broadcast television special about Mrs. Parks. The TV special will be issued on DVD and given to thousands of schools around the country." (N.Y. Times)
Money Quote:
New York Times scribe Jesse McKinley on the announcement that a stage version of "The Wedding Singer" may be headed to Broadway: "In the history of Broadway, it is the names of composers that echo in the ether: Cole Porter. Stephen Sondheim. And now, Adam Sandler." (N.Y. Times)
-- Amy Reiter
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