Morning Briefing:
Kramer's tour of apology continues: Michael "Kramer" Richards was on the Rev. Jesse Jackson's nationally syndicated radio show on Sunday to again apologize for his racist tirade at a Los Angeles comedy club two weeks ago. Richards told Jackson his remorse for what he said was almost instantaneous: "I'm shattered by it. The way this came through me was like a freight train. After it was over, when I went to look for them, they had gone." Meanwhile, the two men who were the focus of his remarks are demanding an apology, and have hired lawyer Gloria Allred, who's also representing the two frat brothers suing Borat. (Associated Press, BBC News)
O.J. and ghostwriter: The New Yorker has a profile on the writing hand behind O.J. Simpson's recently scuttled book, "If I Did It," a journalist and screenwriter named Pablo Fenjves. The piece also traces the genesis of the book -- Fenjves and publisher Judith Regan became close when they both worked at the National Enquirer in the '70s -- and contains Fenjves' hopes that another company will still want to publish the book: "It's going to be bigger than ever. It's like 'Ulysses,' except without the talent." Oddly, Simpson has implied Fenjves took the confession angle so far that his knowledge indicates he, not Simpson, was the one with something to get off his chest: "When I saw what he wrote, I said, 'Maybe you did it because they're saying the chapter contains things only the killer would know,'" Simpson told a Miami radio station Nov. 22. In the same interview, O.J. also admitted to making money from the book deal: "Would everyone stop being so naive? Of course I got paid. I spent the money on my bills. It's gone." (Los Angeles Times, E Online)
New super-friends? Britney Spears' newly single P.R. blitz continued over the weekend with multiple Paris Hilton-escorted events. The new duo were seen out almost every day over the Thanksgiving break, and one night showed up at Los Angeles' Roosevelt Hotel sporting matching leopard-print outfits. A source who saw them at one club on Friday told People: "Paris was acting like Britney's boyfriend. She opened doors for her, held her hand and even had her arm around Britney's lower back. Britney happily accepted Paris' friendly gestures." (People)
Also:
"Project Runway" star Heidi Klum gave birth to a boy, Johan Riley Fyodor Taiwo Samuel, Nov. 22 -- it's her second child with her husband, Seal. (Us Weekly) ... Warner Bros.' "Happy Feet" was No. 1 at the box office for the second week in a row over the holiday break, taking in an estimated $51.6 million over the five-day period. (The Hollywood Reporter) ... And "Casino Royale" was the No. 2 movie in the U.S. but hit No. 1 everywhere else in the world -- it's the biggest Bond film yet, so far bringing in over $224 million worldwide. (Deadline Hollywood Daily) ... Madonna's "Confessions Tour Live" special, which aired on NBC last Wednesday night, came in fourth for the ratings that night, getting beat by CBS's "Jericho," ABC's "Show Me the Money" and a showing of "Cheaper by the Dozen" on Fox. (Zap2It)
Money Quote:
Will Ferrell on his trauma-free childhood: "I've got no dark secrets, I wasn't beaten up, my parents were kind to me and there was a low crime rate where we lived." (London Observer via Page Six)
Turn On:
On Monday night, "Prison Break" (Fox, 8 p.m. EST) has its last episode before going on extended hiatus, "The Bachelor" (ABC, 9 p.m. EST) has its Season 9 finale, and it's the debut of the new grocery-store comedy series "10 Items or Less" (TBS, 11 p.m. EST).
On the Talk Shows:
Larry King (CNN, 9 p.m. EST): Former President Jimmy Carter
Charlie Rose (PBS, check local listings): Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, Annie Leibovitz
David Letterman (CBS, 11:30 p.m. EST): Kate Winslet, Tom Waits
Jay Leno (NBC, 11:35 p.m. EST): Cameron Diaz, Isaac Mizrahi, the Wreckers
Conan O'Brien (NBC, 12:35 a.m. EST): Matthew Broderick, Lisa Edelstein, Jet
Craig Ferguson (CBS, 12:35 a.m. EST): William Shatner, Mike Luckovich, Driveblind
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC, 12:05 a.m. EST): Don Rickles, Nick and Aaron Carter, the Hold Steady (repeat)
Jon Stewart (Comedy Central, 11 p.m. EST): Rep. Rahm Emanuel
Stephen Colbert (Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. EST): Jim Lehrer
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