Even though I RSVP'd for Matt Lauer's Friar Roast last Friday, I wasn't allowed in to the actual lunch, and had to hang out at the "red carpet event" at midtown's Hilton and then go home. Très misleading, though I did get to touch Mario Lopez.
But apparently I wasn't the only member of the press tricked into "attending" the event, only to be told once I got there that I wasn't allowed in: "At the roast — where Lauer had daily press banned from the actual lunch — Cruise delivered a slide show message to Lauer that made it seem like they were old buddies."
Why would Matt Lauer ban press from his roast? Afraid that we might find out about his secret friendship with Tom Cruise, after the two had that very public argument on The Today Show in 2006, about Scientology and psychology, that ended with Cruise telling Lauer he knew nothing about the history of psychology? Snoooooze. It was more of a scandal that the Friar's Club would put Dr. Hibbert Al Roker in charge of the roast.
Katie Couric couldn't resist making Tom Cruise's appearance at Lauer's roast into a clever little bon mot:
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The Today show gang continues their tour of embarrassing stunts as they work their way through the rest of the Olympics. This morning, Al Roker and Matt Lauer treated viewers to their rhythmic gymnastics routine. This goes over well with the working and stay-at-home moms who make up a huge portion of their viewership, but not for cynical media watchers like ourselves. CONTINUED »
We've been dutifully chronicling all of the Today show gang's embarrassing acts of cultural diversity while broadcasting from the Beijing Olympics, because we want a historical record of what it means to be American in a foreign country.
Already, there was Meredith Vieira trying her hand at gymnastics. The whole bunch — Matt, Meredith, Ann, and Al — trying to sing opera. And the lot of them trying out local cuisine.
Now, a Beijing tipster says there's another embarrassing moment on the horizon: In a pre-taped segment on tomorrow's Today, Roker tries learning Chinese. It did not go well. CONTINUED »
Just when I think Ice-T can’t get any more offensive, he goes and compares his wife to a sports car. On a family game show. In front of his mother-in-law. Host Al Roker seemed surprisingly unfazed by the show of misogyny, though. The “Ice-T Family” competed against Joan Rivers and Co. on Celebrity Family Feud last night. The families play for charities — Ice-T’s was a gang prevention program and Joan Rivers’ was a charity that gives guide dogs to the blind. You don’t have to watch until the end of the episode to know that a few blind people woke up in really good moods this morning.
The first topic was “something that’s slippery and hard to hold onto.” You know where this is going.
Today show weatherguy and fan greeter Al Roker is in talks with FremantleMedia to become the next host of Family Feud, taking over from John O'Hurley and returning the show to its rightful place as "that show hosted by the pudgy guy." [Variety]
Yesterday, Janice Dickinson (a.k.a. the nip-tucked monstosity formerly known as "The World's First Supermodel") called frenemy Tyra Banks "fat" during a candid exchange with Al Roker on the Today show. Then, she panicked and immediately tried to run damage control by awkwardly rescinding her statements in an interview with former View co-host Star Jones.
But her slick maneuvering wasn't enough to fool the observant editor of Stereohyped, who called Dickinson out on her transparency and had this to say about her backpedaling behavior:
The greatest thing about publicity tours is that when you go on a talk show in the morning and call Tyra Banks fat during an interview with a black host who has had highly-publicized gastric bypass surgery, you can retract the statement the very same day during an interview with a different black host who has had highly-publicized gastric bypass surgery.
So true! Next up on Janice Dickinson's self-promotional publicity tour: A round-panel discussion with Mike Huckabee, Missy Elliot and Karl Lagerfeld.
Epilepsy sufferers, as we all know, are great at involuntarily shaking around when they're in the midst of an epileptic fit. But the rest of the time, they could sure stand to loosen up!
At least that's what Al Roker has learned, after his "haha, you've got epilepsy!" jokes last week inspired a wholly unexpected backlash.
"Remember that controversial Olympic logo for the 2012 Olympics in London? Some folks have complained that the campaign actually sent them into epileptic seizures," Roker said on Thursday's show.
"Well, we asked you to weigh in on our Web site in an informal poll; those of you who could get up off the floor after shaking around were able to actually log in . . . "
The next day, Roker apologized on the air, saying, "We were joking about the logo - not about epilepsy. If anybody was offended, I heartily and really humbly apologize."
Roker then clarified that he was laughing with epilepsy, and not at epilepsy, adding, "And, if you don't like it, why don't you suddenly—and without warning—lose consciousness, fall to the floor, froth at the mouth, and rhythmically jerk your extremities about it?"
You know Don Imus has gone and done some shit when the Today show is revamping their schedule because of it. We hear Jim Bell's team has canceled all of their guests in the 9-10am hour tomorrow for a still-being-worked-on special segment on race, hosted by, of course, Al Roker. For the sake of things, let's hope Ann Curry gets a voice too. And Jasper.
Exclusive
Lisa Sharkey once held an enviable dayjob at Good Morning America, where she played senior producer (and professional faster … 82 days!). That was until her bosses discovered she was using her business card's pedigree to do some Star Jonesing: snag free products, services, and tickets from anyone looking for a chance to get booked on GMA.
She was, as they say, dismissed.
Following her ouster, Sharkey landed, in July 2005, at Al Roker Productions, the producing arm of the Today show weatherman that spits out programming for the Food Network and Court TV.
Only thing: She carried her trademark swag grabbing over to Roker's biz. And, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter, "Roker didn't like hearing back from folks that Sharkey was threatening to withhold business unless they gave her stuff." So what did the weatherman do? He fired her, natch. That was at the end of last year.
Now we hear Sharkey (pictured at right, with TV producer Rebecca Shalam) is trying to get back into the morning show game, putting out feelers to anyone who will take her calls — and, she's hoping, doesn't know her reputation. Except she already burned her bridges at ABC with her GMA stint, and Roker's strong ties with NBC means the door is shut there, too, says our source.
So what's left? The Early Show on CBS, the daddy of Sharkey's old haunt, KCBS, where she landed her first job before ending up at Inside Edition.
We're told she's "in talks" with CBS about possible employment, but so far it's unclear whether exec producer Michael Bass knows Sharkey is the Winona Ryder of morning TV. That might not go over well with HR.
Image via NYSD
• Chris Klein is destined to go through life as "Katie Holmes' ex-boyfriend.' Tough break, Nova.
• Al Roker launches his v-blog on the revamped Today show website; Amanda Congdon panics, then remembers she looks "much, much better" in a tight t-shirt.
• Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner decides he's ready to grow up; takes off his Mickey ears and buys a lifetime's supply of Bazooka chewing gum.
• MTV is launching thousands of websites. 'Who cares?' asks the disgruntled throngs of recently-fired MTV staffers.
• A braless Sharon Stone flips out when photogs capture her G.I. Jane look.
• Our homosexual younger brother tells Ann Coulter how to treat her gays.
Four hours of delicious Today show goodness? We're having trouble even getting our minds wrapped around it. Luckily, those helpful folks over at USA Today have reminded us that it's already been done. And by "done" in this case, we obviously mean "attempted, but failed horribly," as in the case of Later Today, the aptly-named (albeit short-lived) disaster.
Of course, these are different times. Back then, people didn't even want 3 hours of Today because they were so consumed with Elian Gonzalez, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, and the impending threat of *gasp* Y2K. But with Gonzalez safely deported, Regis recharging his batteries and Y2K only a faint** recollection, the stage is set for Today to eat up yet another hour that could be more constructively spent by watching Tyra. Or, you know, working.
Anyways, here's some info about the yet-to-be-officially-named-new-anchors!:
Hosts have not yet been named for Today's new hour, but regulars Natalie Morales and Campbell Brown are expected to have roles, along with ex-Giants running back Tiki Barber, who'll join as men's lifestyle contributor.
An NBC executive confirmed details of the fourth hour but asked not to be identified because the formal announcement is not until today. Anchors Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira will not have roles, but Today's Ann Curry and Al Roker could, the executive said.
Wait just a second, Al Roker? Ann Curry? Why, they're not new at all! In fact, they already feel like old friends, being that we already spend three hours with them every day! But we can't wait to see Al chuckle his way through an interview with Obama or Curry ad-lib her way through a teleprompter mishap. So mark your calendars, people. The extended, un-cut, director's version of the Today show hits television screens as early as next September.
Because it doesn't take three hours to drink your coffee and do your morning pilates, people. It takes four.
**and somewhat amusing
We were so enthralled over Chris Cuomo joining the Diane Sawyer Robin Roberts team, that we completely skipped over a few other TV Newser gossip bit.
Our favorite Manhunter, Sam Champion, is also joining Good Morning America as their trusty weatherman. First came the rumor (FTV Live says Sam Champion is going to GMA), Then the back-up (a tipster tells TV Newser Sam Champion is going to GMA) and then the confirmation:
"Sam came back from vacation this afternoon, and the deal was finalized," this TVNewsTalk.net poster says. "ABC made Sam an offer to join Good Morning America and he couldn't pass it up. This is Sam's dream — national exposure."
So, Sam Champion is going to GMA. He likely won't have as much of a hosting role as Al Roker does on Today, but we're happy to have a guy who paid his dues on shitty New York local news get his moment in the spotlight. Especially because when we get reports and gossip concerning his latest Chelsea romps, people might actually care.
GMA's New Weatherman: Sam Champion? [Brian Stetler, TV Newser]
Earlier: The Weathermen Outside Are Frightful, But the Gossip Is So Delightful
Earlier: Sam Champion Stays Current With News, Porn
As we forced ourselves to turn on the Today show this morning, we were greeted with a rendition of Memories, a slide show photo of Katie Couric flying by, and misty eyed host. Oh, how we wish it could have ended there. If you thought you've heard the Today show do all Katie Couric all the time before, really, nothing could hold a candle to the queen of daytime's last day.
In what Katie herself called "coverage of moi, ad nauseam," the sob fest indeed continued throughout the whole episode. The Columbine kid didn't quite move us to tears, but when Katie went into the loss of her husband, a few foreign salty objects sprung from our eyes. And then we quickly went back to laughing again, when Katie tried to come up with the words for her audience.
"I've been raking my brains," she announced, "my small brains." Finally, after all that raking, she delivered us with "gratitude." And then the salty objects threatened to come again as she went on and on to her colleagues:
Matt Lauer has been her extraordinary colleague and great friend … Al Roker's enthusiasm amazes her … she completely ignores Ann Curry … it was truly amazing.
Matt pulls out the 9/11 card, says how much he'll miss her, and then literally says in that boy-next-door charm, "thanks for the laughs." Then, despite getting snubbed by Katie, Ann Curry relays her memories. "People have said to me, 'I'm alive because Katie Couric got a colonoscopy.'" Then those people all wore "Thank You Katie!" t-shirts and lined up outside, introduced as "the people Katie Couric saved." (Yes, we threw up in our mouths just a little on that one.)
It is now 9:01, and we have listened to Martina McBride and Tony Bennet live, along with Green Day and The Beatles in the background, and currently Al is giving his speech while Ann and Natalie Morales try not to do jumping jacks of joy.
One more hour, folks, and then we can finally say good-bye to Katie Couric forever. Until next year, that is, when she is guaranteed to make an anniversary appearance, when we have to suffer through three more hours and 16 years of screen reels.
We just about died when we saw that Bonnie Fuller was going to be on the Today show promoting her book.
But when Al Roker started busting out the "what about your former employee Jared Paul Stern?" questions, we actually fell off the futon. When we came to, here's what we extrapolated from their conversation.
AR: Jared Paul Stern was a former employee of yours … what do you think of this story?
BF: Well, I think if the allegations are true, that's very unfortunate for him.
AR: He called Star a "black hole." Why would he say that?
BF: I have no idea. Star is a wonderful place to work.
Ok, so it's not the juiciest sound bite we've ever heard. But, we much rather listen to Bon on Jared than Bon on how balancing your life is for pampered little preps. And they say New York gossip is just fodder.
• They will get married, they won't get married, they did get married … enough. We've seen the tattoo baby stomach, now, and that's all we need. No wonder her kid is always sticking his tongue out at everyone. [R & M]
• Crazy French people. Carl Swanson can not tell a lie!. He works at New York, ok? He's got that Bernard-Henri Levy francias babble on tape. [Page Six]
• James Frey somehow agreed to appear on Oprah's show today, where he managed to get bitch slapped, paddle whipped, and ass spanked all at the same time. Oprah, meanwhile, only got "duped." [CBS]
• Warning: reading Augusten Burroughs might make you actually run with scissors. Straight into James Frey's "you just ruined every book" guts. [Page Six]
• Like brother like sister. It really is sweet in a meta gross celeb family sort of way. [OMG Blog]
• Who's older you or Al Roker? Well, at least you've only been putting up with him for 10 years. [AP]
2005 was a pretty boring year for magazines. A few folds, a few launches, a few EIC departees and scandals…nothing too mind-blowing. Or, maybe it was just that the shame shadows cast by the New York Times are large enough to cloud over an entire industry. TV News had its moments, as did blogs! It was tough competition, but the categories and their nominees for Best Media Moments are here:
(and don't forget the winners after the jump!)
• 'Twas the year for founding magazine EICs to abandon their babies, and we sure were sad to see them go. Sarah Gray Miller broke a few hearts when she left Budget Living's pockets empty. And of course there was Jane Pratt's confusing departure from Jane, which led Brandon Holley to say c'ya to ELLEgirl. It's hard enough to keep track, let alone choose our fave EIC flee.
• Ah, the scandals of journalism. If only there was a tabloid for media freaks to follow each other's wrong-doings. Nominees for 2005's biggest newsmedia mishaps go to Judith Miller for her NYT/Scooter Libby/Valerie Plame protection/revelation debacle. And recently, there was that whole NYT wiretap/PR disguised as service journalism fiasco. And of course, who could forget good old Graydon Carter's Deep Throat discovery? (Not to mention all the press leaks it inspired.)
• Sometimes, newscasters can get a little whacky, but that's why we love them. Television news needs its moment in the spotlight too, so we have nominated a couple in the category of TV travesties: Al Roker for his Hurricane Wilma wipe-out or Matt Lauer for holding his own when attacked with Tom Cruise's particular brand of cruisaziness. (Ok, we realize these are both Today Show incidents, but all the nerds already covered the real news.)
• When unoriginal mags launch, nobody wins. Yet, they just keep on launchin'. Our favorite new mags of the year? David will kill us all if we don't list Cookie, everyone's fave billionaire baby book. And then there was Weekend, another richie rich mag for people who have like seven houses and a cabin, and overcrowding the tabloid market from abroad is the very celeboring OK!. We hate them all, but which is truly the most unnecessary new mag of the year? After the jump, guys!
• The worst things to happen to media this year? Its a sad category, but someone's gotta do it. We don't what was more heartbreaking, the death of Peter Jennings or the death of Radar. And Judy behind bars was kind of a blow to the industry (yes, she can be nominated twice). Hmm, what else…? Oh, yeah, Peter Braunstein on the loose was pretty f'd up.
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• Robert Downey Jr. is speaking about his wedding weekend feud with Ron Perelman and Ellen Barkin, but he says his location switch had less to do with their photo policy on the estate and more to do with their wishes for unhappiness.
• Lindsay Lohan tried reaching out to foe Hilary Duff, only to have the starlet's sister hang up on her. Hmm, perhaps she's trying to reconcile in time for their Bad Girls shoot?
• Today show laugh track Al Roker hasn't been seen in two weeks, even with the country's biggest meteorological event taking place. Rumor had it he was just sick, but publicist Howard Rubenstein now says he's going in for "minor back surgery."
• Jennifer Lopez and Bordertown co-star Antonia Banderas are said to be elevating their professional on-set relationship to something a little more flirtatious, naturally pissing off Melanie Griffith's lips and Marc Anthony's skeleton.
• If Naomi Campbell can't slap you in person, she'll do it on a T-shirt. But the joke landed fashionisto Mal Sirrah on her blacklist with his shirt "Naomi slapped me… (on the front) and I slapped that bitch back! (on the back)," though Naomi's camp says it's more PR stunt than fact.
• Andre 3000 may not eat meat but he's got no problem killing animals for the sake of fashion. He's cutting off the tails of the endangered gray wolf to push his latest fashion must-have.
• It turns out Suge Knight shot himself at Kanye West's MTV VMA party, which makes us less keen on feeling sympathetic.
Even a condom won't save you from the spreading of this disease: Gay vague. It's moving faster than the AIDS Superbug, ya'll. And today the New York Times dictation of "what's news" has taken the Today show as its latest victim.
Producers have Al Roker heading up the "Hug It Out" segment, admittedly stolen from Entourage's Ari, who we will forever hold a grudge with for putting us through this homoerotic love display.
From police and EMS to i-bankers and regular bar buddies, the man hug is taking over — and Roker's on the scene. But while traditional reporters might choose to keep themselves removed from the story, that's not Roker's bag, baby.
Al is one embedded journalist.
After the jump, more pics including: Al Roker gets his hug on with someone else, Al Roker expresses the joy that comes from man hugging and Ann Curry gets in on the action.
CONTINUED »
