Morning Briefing:
Let the awards season begin: The New York Film Critics Circle yesterday named "Brokeback Mountain" the year's best picture -- just a couple of days after Los Angeles' and Boston's critics groups gave it the same honor -- and "Brokeback" helmer Ang Lee best director. Meanwhile, the National Board of Review also gave Lee its best-director award but chose "Good Night, and Good Luck" as its best film. Also noteworthy, for those trying to decide whether to stand in line for tomorrow's "King Kong" opening: Peter Jackson's remake took the NBR's award for best special effects. (E! Online, Variety)
Moby asks the tough questions: After an Eminem fan beat a woman to death and stuffed her in a suitcase, echoing a scenario in Eminem's song "Stan," Moby revived his longtime feud with the rapper, claiming in his blog that those who make, play and support songs like Eminem's "have blood on [their] hands." "If a musician made a record wherein he talked about killing blacks and Jews would he get covered in the press and played on radio and MTV?" he writes. "If the answer is 'no' (as it should be), then why [are] radio and MTV filled with music that has lyrics about killing and brutalizing women and gays? Is it somehow less offensive when women and gays are brutalized and killed?" (Moby.com via Rush and Molloy)
Jenna's I.D.-gate: Not only did Jenna Bush apparently leave her wallet in a Manhattan bar last week, the guy who now has it made a tape describing his night with the first daughter. According to someone who has seen the tape -- which was shot by Travis Poston at tbirdshow.com and so far hasn't been released -- the guy describes himself as a downtown coke dealer, brandishes Jenna's wallet and UT-Austin college I.D. for the camera, and says that Jenna had been "helping [him] clean up" the bar at the end of the night -- whatever that means. "There are about ten top papers fighting for that footage," tbirdshow.com wrote in an e-mail to Radar Online. The Secret Service is investigating. (Radar Online)
Also:
Colin Farrell checked himself into a treatment center for exhaustion and addiction to a prescription drug he'd been taking for a back injury. Farrell's rep offered no other details, but Page Six helpfully adds that "Farrell had developed a set of man-boobs and an unhealthy sheen due to his constant partying during the long months of shooting 'Miami Vice' on location." (CNN.com, Page Six) Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are looking at a house -- or houses -- together: They may be making one offer for two L.A. properties just blocks away from each other. (Lowdown) Finally, Lindsay Lohan's parents have officially divorced. (N.Y. Daily News) British police say they want to prosecute Kate Moss for cocaine possession; not surprisingly, the model plans to stay in the United States. (Page Six) 50 Cent sidekick Young Buck pleaded no contest yesterday to the charge of stabbing another man during a brawl at last year's Vibe awards. (E! Online) No big surprise here: Martha Stewart's ratings-challenged "Apprentice" has been canceled, though her daytime talk show will be renewed. (Associated Press) Florida prosecutors won't be able to ask Rush Limbaugh's doctors about his drug abuse, as a judge held up his doctor-patient confidentiality. (Yahoo!)
Money Quote:
Model Jenny Shimizu on kissing former girlfriend Angelina Jolie: "I've never kissed anyone with a bigger mouth than Angelina. It's like two water beds -- it's like this big kind of warm, mushy, beautiful thing." (Rush & Molloy)
Turn on:
It's the two-hour season finale of "The Amazing Race" (CBS, 9 p.m. EST). And PBS premieres the Independent Lens documentary on the North Korean underground railroad, "Seoul Train." (PBS, check local listings)
-- Priya Jain
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