For its fourth season of Hard Knocks, HBO insists it won't give in to the tabloidization of everything in life, and that its sports show about a professional football team during training camp — this season it's the the Dallas Cowboys — won't make much of, say, Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson's relationship. Instead, insists NFL Films president Steve Sabol, "Ninety-five percent of our efforts will be focused on what happens on the field and in the locker room." And don't think that means frontal shots of Terrell Owens.
So why pick a team like the Cowboys, which is rife with gossip page nuances — Romo-Simpson, Vegas stripper shooting personality Adam "Pacman" Jones, larger than life owner Jerry Jones — and not deliver the gossip-y footage? Because, says Sabol, "there is good drama with these characters, and there are arresting personalities from the administration down to the field."
Alas, so many missed opportunities! No chance to see Jones try and negotiate his way back into the NFL. No chance to see Jones try to buy Cowboys.com. And no chance to see Simpson lead Romo around by the hand before throwing him in the back of a SUV and darting off to their separate hotel — to stay out of the team's spotlight — for an evening of tabloid speculation.
Without Barack Obama, the tabloids basically have nothing to go on these days. Britney Spears is cleaning up her act. Nicole Richie sometimes parties late, but mostly stays hidden with her mommyhood. And there's the scraps: Mary-Kate Olsen heading to rehab? Oooh, breaking! Which is why, just sometimes, the tabloids have to rely on their own reporters to drum up scandal.
Like the way Us Weekly did with Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo. CONTINUED »
Ever the media-savvy businessman, Joe Simpson has publicly responded to the same rumors we hear about him every week (he’s a creepy control-freak), and his defense isn’t helping. “The media says that I try to plan everything,” Joe says. “If I had half of the power they give me…” Um, then what? Do we want to know?
So apparently the Jessica Simpson-Tony Romo relationship is really back in action, but only on Romo’s terms. According to a friend, for some bizarre reason, Tony thinks Papa Joe is too involved in the relationship. That really came out of nowhere.
Why would Joe Simpson want daughter Jessica's ex-boyfriend Tony Romo at Ashlee's wedding? "To come to show support for the wedding," as one Us Weekly source says? [Us] Or because papa Joe knows that the more celebrities at Ashlee's wedding, the more exposure he can get, and the more he can possibly charge. We've already reported he sold the wedding pics to People for an estimated $1.3 million, but with Romo there, the gossip currency only grows. And let's just hope Joe didn't promise People that Tony would be there.
So yeah, Tony, go show your "support" for "the wedding," and not Joe's bank balance.
Cosmopolitan editor Kate White (or her wrangling minions) deserves an enormous amount of credit for last night bringing together John Mayer, Dane Cook, and Tony Romo — two former and one current love interest of Jessica Simpson. For its "Fun Fearless Male of the Year" awards (which Mayer won), Cosmo smartly scooped up all three celebs for some red carpet mingling, though White denies Simpson had anything to do with the choices.
Uh huh: Last year, Simpson's ex-husband Nick Lachey took home the award.
• OMG! Harry Potter is hitting it with Hermione. If J.K. Rowling were dead, she'd be rolling over in her grave. Since she's alive, she's probably pleased with any extra DVD sales that result from the romance.
• Gene Simmons has a sex tape. We're only surprised this didn't surface earlier.
• Jessica Simpson doesn't want to become the next Kirstie Alley, and is consequently being sued for $10 million.
• Speaking of Simpsons, Joe Simpson wants Tony Romo to become the next Nick Lachey. Not a good call, man.
• Britney Spears needs the anti-depressants that help people remember to wear underwear.
• Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon growing fame makes us feel old.
COUPLES WE ARE NOT JEALOUS OF Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo had what passes for Italian in Dallas for Valentine's Day. According to an insider, "They sat in a corner booth to try and get some privacy." Yeah, these two seem so desperate for privacy. Everything about their date, from the champagne to the chocolate mousse, is about as a trite as their relationship. [People]
• According to a celebrity assistant, Michelle Williams wanted full custody of li'l Matilda.
• Paris Hilton's travel clothes are worse than ours.
• Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo are still candooling. It's easy to be in love without a career to worry about.
• Thoughts on the nominees for best animated short film, the Achilles' Heel of any Oscar pool entry.
• Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal are back. Or back getting photographed together. You know, six of one, half dozen of the other.
• Jenna Jameson is still around, though we can't remember if she's back doing porn or back boycotting it.
Since they didn’t get a chance to write about Heath Ledger’s last days, this week OK! covered America’s emotional train wreck, Jessica Simpson
In an article subtly titled “Jessica Dumped!,” OK! says that Tony Romo had left Simpson after the Cowboys lost in the playoffs. The article also claims that Jess and Ash were no longer sisters who were also BFF. F!
Not true at all, shouts the Simpson camp. Her lawyers say the OK! piece “is based on nothing more than rumor, gossip and innuendo." Um, yeah? CONTINUED »
The post-romance good will lives: John Mayer defends his Cowboy spoiler and ex-gf Jessica Simpson on his blog:
Dear Dallas and Surrounding Areas,
This isn't a sports blog, and it isn't a publicity stunt. (but have at me if it feels right.)
This is about doing what I think is right as a person, in this case speaking my mind.
I have never known anyone to have more pride in their home state and their upbringing in it than Jessica Simpson has in Texas. I don't really follow sports, but I have played some of my biggest and best concerts in your state, and having witnessed how dynamic the spirit there is, I'm betting emotions are running high right about now.
All witty barbs, blogs, and fashion policing aside, that girl loves Texas more than you know. It's one of her most defining traits as a person. So please don't try and take that away from her. (You probably wouldn't be able to, but it's less work for all involved.)
I just thought it would mean something coming from the guy who has the absolute least to gain from this. And if I'm out of line in having written it, too bad. I can spare a Wednesday's worth of bad press if it means sticking up for a good soul.
JM
Actually, the people in Texas really do listen to John Mayer. Still clearly, she was responsible for her boyfriend's loss on Sunday.
[Photo]
The Cowboys lost their playoff game Sunday, or more significantly quarterback Tony Romo didn't win it.
Now the question is whether Romo did the right thing last week by going to Mexico with Jessica Simpson.
Yes, that Jessica Simpson.
Many believe Romo should have spent the bye weekend cuddling his playbook instead of canoodling his girlfriend.
The way they make it sound, what Romo did was more regrettable than playing two days of golf with O.J. Simpson.
-Mike Imrem, "One Shouldn't Be So Quick To Question Tony Romo," The Daily Herald, writing after the Cowboy's 17-21 loss to Giants yesterday.
[Photo]
Tom Brady agrees that the most interesting thing about Tony Romo is his love life. The Patriots QB told Romo to keep Jessica Simpson away from his games.
It's hard to tell if this is good advice. On the one hand, Brady had a perfect season. On the other hand, Brady's girlfriend sent passive aggressive baby gifts to Bridget Moynahan. But ultimately, we agree that Jessica Simpson is annoying and should go away.
[Photo Credit: WireImage]
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craven \KRAY-vun\ adjective
: lacking the least bit of courage : contemptibly fainthearted
Even with Jessica Simpson rooting on her boyfriend, Tony Romo, the Dallas Cowboys' offensive was craven against the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday.
Ok, Us Weekly, we’ll never doubt you again. As you told us last week, it looks like Jessica Simpson is hooking up with Dallas Cowboy QB Tony Romo. Apparently being from Texas is more than enough to build an emotionally fulfilling relationship. Now there are pictures of the two together, walking a safe distance apart, feigning disinterest in each other. Looks like the start of a whirlwind romance.
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