It's a well known fact that George Clooney throws European arugula fetes for Barack Obama that cost $10,000 to get into. Perhaps it's that sort of thing that led to rumors that the two men are drinking buddies who text message each other about Middle Eastern policy and "body language."
Were that true, it might understandably turn off voters who can't relate to being so rich that the world's most important people are just a phone call away, but Clooney swears it's not, and he's putting his money where his protestation is:
Salim Hamdan was just sentenced to five and half years for chauffeuring Osama bin Laden through McDonald's drive-thrus, or whatever the Afghani equivalent is, while he plotted the 9/11 attacks. Hamdan has been holed up in Guantanamo Bay for over five years without a trial, so he's actually eligible for release in five months, although Bush & Co. have threatened to hold him indefinitely after he has served him time. The media has been all over the story because 1) Not every programming minute can be filled by the Olympics; and 2) It potentially sets a precedent for suspected terrorists to receive something looking like a fair trial.
ANYWAY, this story has been blasted to death, but is not dead yet! Much like Oliver Stone's treatment of the Bush dynasty in W, Hamden's story has been optioned for film a little too soon for comfort. Like, jeez, this story has been around for five years but has only gained momentum in the last month or so, which is right around the time that hunky leading man and bad motorcyclist George Clooney bought the rights to The Challenge, journalist Jonathan Mahler's tale of the indicted Yemenite. Can't we let the headline cool, and its effects settle in, before ripping it into a feature? CONTINUED »
Since 2004, George Clooney has been the face of Martini vermouth, his ads popping up on European television where he doesn't think American audiences will find him and realize, in addition to lending his name to charitable causes, he lends his name to corporate come ons. Here's his latest spot, which, like his previous ads, features Clooney with a moustache, an uttering the one word he knows in Italian.
But analyzing the ad under another context makes it more interesting.
In 2005, Britain's Code of Advertising changed the rules for liquor ads, requiring them not to link alcohol to "seduction, sexual activity or sexual success." However, romance and flirtation are allowed, which explains Clooney's PG chase of the object of his desire.
If this ad had aired in America, of course, you would've seen Clooney sealing the deal.
Another of his tame spots, below.
So we've gone a little crazy with People's archive of covers — 34 years X 52-ish issues a year = too much content — and one of the better searches we've done is "Sexiest Man Alive."
There have been the classic choices — ZOMG Brad Pitt!! — but also some incredibly bad choices. For example:
• Nick Nolte (a-hem)
• Sean Connery at 60 ("Older, Balder…and Better!")
• L.A. Law's Harry Hamlin (quote: "Certainly when I look in the mirror, I don't get turned on.")
• JFK, Jr., who is dead, which makes us sad, but okay, he's still incredibly attractive
So what can we learn by perusing the archive of People's sexiest men?
First off, we learned they didn't name a sexy fella in 1994. And also: CONTINUED »
George Clooney had the Hearst girls in a tizzy when he arrived in the lobby to shoot a spread for Esquire. [P6]
At last night's Costume Institute Gala – which is a cartoon version of Fashion Week, which itself is a cartoon version of reality – celebrities and Anna Wintour wore frilly costumes to The Met in keeping with the theme of "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy," walking up the red carpeted steps in front of a throng of photographers.
Ms. Wintour was described in this way: "She seemed to be broadcasting a message of total earthly control." She imagined herself as Storm, from X-Men. "I control the weather," she said. (It was in the 50s with a few clouds in the sky.)
David and Victoria Beckham blessed the crowd, along with Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen, Mary J. Blige, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Giorgio Armani.
Many guests were "unusually" prompt. Not all of them. The mayor showed up late, as did The Donald+Melania, fat people-adverse Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Janet Jackson, Donatella Versace, and Donna Karan.
Some women, like Iman, correctly wore her clothing. Others, like Mischa Barton and Anna Wintour, did not. CONTINUED »
When asked by a local United Arab Emirates reporter about the American perception of Arabs, consummate politician actor George Clooney "It depends on which American you speak to. Remember, America is a big island… but post 9/11, it hasn’t been a great last few years."
Which is sort-of the understatement of the year, unless "it hasn't been a great last few years" is a euphemism for "airport security MUST 'randomly' search anyone wearing a turban." [Mollygood]
• Lifelong bachelor George Clooney neatly curtails rumors that he's a closeted homosexual by getting into a bitchy catfight with Fabio.
• There's no afternoon pick-me-up quite like a NSFW gallery of the best celebrity wardrobe malfunctions.
• Katie Holmes wardrobe choices continue to shock and amaze. (Marathon? No bra necessary. Clingy velvety get-up? Mandatory.)
• Note to Elisha Cuthbert: You're going to need to invest in a slutty new wardrobe if you want to keep hanging with Paris.
• Michael Jackson's precious Neverland ranch is in foreclosure! Buyers beware, however: The place still has the unmistakable stench of zoo animals and pedophilia.
• Does Nick Lachey love Vanessa Minnillo enough to marry her without making her sign a prenup? (Also, does the "If you really loved me, you wouldn't make me sign a prenup" line ever actually work?)
• Could it be that Star magazine was mistaken when they claimed that Britney had already hit rock bottom?
• We've got $100,000 that says celebrities have way too much time, money on their hands. Any takers?
• Is Noah Wyle still hot?
• Who says Brad Pitt can't play against type?
• Does Anna Kournikova ever wear clothes?
• Sure, you hate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's politics. But what about those adorable dimples?
• Breaking: George Clooney's new girlfriend has a racy past that includes cocktail waitressing and wearing two-piece bathing suits while on vacation.
• Jenny McCarthy is possible engaged, definitely a nose-picker.
• Hayden Panettiere stubbornly refuses to forgo undergarments and exit her limousine crotch-first. Prude!
• Like Today correspondent Ann Curry, Heidi Montag isn't afraid to die for what believes in. Unlike Ann Curry, what Heidi Montag believes in is breast augmentation.
• Kiefer Sutherland joins the Hollywood DUI Club — though his illegal U-turn still doesn't best Nicole Richie's driving up an exit ramp.
• Just be grateful your parents still haven't figured out how to turn on the computer.
• George Clooney's non-famous 23 year-old girlfriend broke her big toe while riding on the back of George Clooney's motorcyle and was forced to show up (as George Clooney's date, natch) to some fancy schmancy movie premiere on crutches. That poor, unbelievably lucky girl.
• Jack Bauer would never get arrested for a DUI. Unfortunately, Kiefer Sutherland would.
• This morning, Beyonce showed us one example of how it sometimes sucks to be famous. Now, Hilary Duff shows us another.
• For those of you who are interested in seeing the Maxim cover spread (but not so interested that you'd actually go out and, like, buy the magazine) today's your lucky day.
• This is why we hate fashion.
The datestamp may read 2007, but for all intents and purposes, it might as well be 1997.
• Singer/drug addict Amy Winehouse has a rather hands-on approach to marriage. "I'm either a really good drunk or I'm an out-and-out s—, horrible, violent, abusive, emotional drunk," Winehouse said. "If [my husband] says one thing I don't like, then I'll chin him." Nice!
• Mandy Moore ignores lad mag protocol, refuses to strip down to her underpants.
• Britney's mom says: "It's sad the whole world had to watch her make mistakes." While you, Britney's mom, came off looking perfect!
• Eminem proves he's "totally over" this whole tired Mariah Carey feud by rehashing six-year old hookup stories and rapping about her on his new album.
• Of course, George Clooney thinks Paris Hilton's a no-talent ass clown. It's just that he's way too debonair to say it.
• Dina Lohan's dog ODed on pet meds. Kidding! Or are we? (We are!)
What does $2 million get you? If you're OK! magazine, an excuse to plug a Darfur charity. The deep-pocketed yet circulation-struggling tabloid shelled out the seven-figure sum to board a yacht party in the South of France with the cast of Ocean's 13, where all anyone (people with names like Brad, George, Don, and Matt) had to talk about was Darfur.
It was a fundraising event, aboard the ridiculously expensive RM Elegant, for Not on Our Watch, the charity spearheaded by the Ocean's cast. And while OK! has some pretty photos to run (like the cater waiter serving "nautical nibbles," and co-stars Scott Caan and Ellen Barkin touching each other), there's nothing here that we couldn't have received from a press release.
In the end, $9.2 million was raised. As OK! notes, "guests had donated anything from $25,000 to $2 million to step aboard." Can you guess whose charitable cheque was the largest?
Editorial Director
