Morning Briefing:
Strange bedfellows: Tom Cruise's new backers may believe in the star, but they differ drastically from his politics. While his business partner Paula Wagner is an active Democratic donor, two of his new bosses are big Republican spenders. As Fox 411 reports, real-estate baron Dwight W. Schar is "credited with convincing Bush 43 to run for president" and has given just over $250,000 to Republican candidates in the past four years, while Washington Redskins owner Daniel M. Snyder has also given heavily to Republican campaigns and counts Sen. George Allen of Virginia as a close friend. (Fox 411)
No more singing for Simpson? Poor Jessica Simpson -- her new album only just came out, but she's not shouting about it, or even really talking at all. Because of what her publicist is calling "a bruise on her vocal cord," Simpson has been ordered to go on vocal rest and has had to cancel various TV appearances. Though her rep expects her to recover soon, a source tells People that we may be on the verge of losing her completely: "If she does not observe vocal rest, she could lose her voice forever." (Associated Press, People)
Also:
In other Jessica Simpson news, she has reportedly started a fling with singer-songwriter John Mayer, who, oddly, also had to cancel a recent show because of vocal problems. (People) ... The Brooklyn art gallery that brought you Britney Spears giving birth on a bearskin rug is making another desperate bid for attention with a new sculpture called "Suri's Bronzed Baby Poop." (E! Online) ... Paparazzi snaps from her vacation in Canada are fueling new rumors about Nicole Kidman being pregnant. (Daily Mail U.K.) ... In an interview on Mediabistro, Michael Ian Black talks about taking over the humor mag Cracked and discusses that eerily prescient Sierra Mist ad he did: "I didn't even think about it until Time.com did a little piece about it. Then, I thought, 'My God, we were so ahead of our time with that one.' Then I thought, 'I really need to take a nap.'" (Mediabistro) ... The Wall Street Journal reports that MTV is having trouble attracting young people to its online offerings: The MTV Overdrive Web site gets just 4 million visitors a month, while the cable channel has an average of 82 million viewers. (Wall Street Journal via Hollywood Wiretap)
Money Quote:
Jon Voight, estranged papa to Angelina Jolie, put his foot in his mouth recently on the Emmy red carpet: "Maddox just had a birthday. Happy birthday, Maddox! 5 years old -- it's a big one! You're getting to be a young man, and I send my love to you. And send my love to ... uh ... Shakira ... and ... Shahira ... [To reporter] Is it Shakira or Shahira?" (Us Online)
Turn On:
It's the premiere of "Justice" (Fox, 9 p.m. EDT), the latest show from über-producer Jerry Bruckheimer ("CSI," "Cold Case"), while Morgan Spurlock's "30 Days" (FX, 10 p.m.) comes to a close with Spurlock spending a month in jail. Also, "Bones" (Fox, 8 p.m.) has its season premiere.
On the Talk Shows:
Larry King (CNN, 9 p.m. EDT): Michael Tracey, who led police to John Mark Karr, and Ramsey family lawyer Lin Wood
Charlie Rose (PBS, check local listings): Amy Farber, Thomas Frieden, Cesar Milan
David Letterman (CBS, 11:30 p.m. EDT): Snoop Dogg, Charlie Hill, OK Go
Jay Leno (NBC, 11:35 p.m. EDT): Jeff Foxworthy, Leelee Sobieski, Pete Yorn
Conan O'Brien (NBC, 12:35 a.m. EDT): Jarod Miller, Neko Case
Craig Ferguson (CBS, 12:35 a.m. EDT): Jaime Pressly, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Franti and Spearhead (repeat)
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC, 12:05 a.m. EDT): Tommy Lee, Wayne Brady, Starsailor
Jon Stewart (Comedy Central, 11 p.m. EDT): Samuel L. Jackson (repeat)
Stephen Colbert (Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. EDT): David Gergen (repeat)
-- Scott Lamb
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