Morning Briefing:
Mel Gibson's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day: With all the solemn, "gotta get better" language that usually accompanies a celebrity's entry into rehab, Mel Gibson checked himself into treatment Monday, though his publicist declined to say exactly where. Yesterday was a busy day for anti-Mel buzz; not only did ABC announce that his planned series on the Holocaust has been canceled, a number of studio executives have come out against him publicly, Disney is apparently worried about "Apocalypto" and, most terrifying of all, Christopher Hitchens threatens that it's time to "lower the boom" on him. Deadline Hollywood also has an "insider" account that Gibson was actually on the verge of suicide when he was picked up by cops: "This was a death wish. If that cop hadn't stopped him, this guy was going to be wrapped around a pole." (Read Neal Gabler's take on the Mel mess here -- and don't forget to check out Video Dog's Mel Gibson parody contest.) (TMZ, Deadline Hollywood, Los Angeles Times, Slate)
The new, improved Lindsay: Poor misunderstood Lindsay Lohan -- according to Tuesday's Rush & Molloy, the latest brouhaha over her penchant for partying couldn't have come at a worse time. While the head of her current film has been blasting her for a sloppy work ethic brought on by too many late nights, she's actually been trying to party less, see, because of the calming influence of her new beau, Hard Rock heir Harry Morton. "She's not drinking," a shocked source spills. "I've never seen her so healthy and happy." Just to prove she's turned over a new leaf, she spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday out at various Los Angeles and Las Vegas clubs. (Rush & Molloy)
Notorious B.I.G.'s case reopened: The Los Angeles Police Department announced on Monday it has put together a new task force to look into the still-unsolved 1997 murder of rapper Notorious B.I.G., following closely on the heels of a $1.1 million payment by the city to B.I.G.'s family. The rapper's relatives are pursuing a second wrongful death lawsuit against the city (the first ended in a mistrial last year), alleging that rogue police officers were involved in his death. (Associated Press)
Also:
MTV debuted 25 years ago on a single cable provider in northern New Jersey -- it was Aug. 1, 1981 -- with a video for the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star." (Associated Press) ... It's also the 35th anniversary of George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh, the very first rock benefit show, and his widow, Olivia, will be at New York's Madison Square Garden to mark the date. (Rush & Molloy) ... Warner Bros. has confirmed that Heath Ledger will play the part of the Joker in the next installment of "Batman," "The Dark Knight." (E! Online) ... You can now choose from 200 of Tori Spelling's designer castoffs -- from a black lace Prada dress to a hot pink Lauren Moffat blazer -- on eBay, where a company that usually handles estate sales is busy "streamlining Tori's closet." (The Scoop) ... "CSI: Miami" is the most popular show in the world, according to a new study comparing the TV ratings of 20 countries around the globe. (BBC News)
Money Quote:
Mel Gibson, during a January 1992 interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais, on his thoughts on gay men: "They take it up the ass." [Then, bending over and pointing:] "This is only for taking a shit." (via Working for Change)
Gibson on "Good Morning America" later that month, offering a non-apology regarding the above remarks: "I don't think there's an apology necessary, and I'm certainly not giving one. [Those remarks were a response] to a direct question. If someone wants my opinion, I'll give it. What, am I supposed to lie to them?" (via Answers.com)
-- Scott Lamb
Turn On:
Tamsin Greig and Michael Landes star as a perfectly matched couple who've never met in the new series "Love Soup" (BBC America, 10 p.m. EDT), and WE premieres a new season of "Secret Lives of Women" (10 p.m. EDT). Also, in a new edition of "Wide Angle" (PBS, check local listings), Danish artist Simone Aaberg Kaern buys a plane and goes to Kabul, Afghanistan, to find the teenage girl she'd read about who dreams of becoming a fighter pilot.
On the Talk Shows:
Larry King (CNN, 9 p.m. EDT): Jon Bon Jovi (repeat)
Charlie Rose (PBS, check local listings): Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott
David Letterman (CBS, 11:30 p.m. EDT): Kate Bosworth, Broken Social Scene (repeat)
Jay Leno (NBC, 11:35 p.m. EDT): Lisa Kudrow, Piers Morgan, Wolfmother
Conan O'Brien (NBC, 12:35 a.m. EDT): Will Ferrell, Christopher Meloni, Landon Pigg
Craig Ferguson (CBS, 12:35 a.m. EDT): Bonnie Raitt, Travis Pastrana, Randy Kagan
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC, 12:05 a.m. EDT): Sandra Oh, Jewel
Jon Stewart (Comedy Central, 11 p.m. EDT): Vali Nasr
Stephen Colbert (Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. EDT): Peter Beinart
-- Lamar Clarkson
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