By Sheri

GEORGE CLOONEY WINS HUMANITARIAN AWARD AT 2010 EMMYS

At the 2010 Prime Time Emmys on Sunday, August 29, George Clooney’s acceptance speech for the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award was awesome. But could we expect any less? Here is one actor who manages not only to be super-gorgeous and a top box office drawing actor, but also a good world citizen. (Hmmm he is like the male version of Angelina Jolie!)

Clooney was honored for all the effort he’s put into raising funds to help people all over the world.  Of course George Clooney accepted his Bob Hope Humanitarian Award with grace and humor. He acknowledged his efforts humbly, but also didn’t downplay them.

Instead, he brought up a very good point that although actors and others go around the world and help from home too when world disasters and crises hit, some of these problems need constant help, yet the focus changes to the latest problem. Clooney also pointed out that people’s “bad behavior” took over the news as well but didn’t go into detail on that. (Did he mean celeb stuff in the news like Lindsay Lohan’s court cases or Mel Gibson’s rants?)

George Clooney said “…bad behavior sucks up all the attention and the press. And the people who really need the spotlight – the Haitians, the Sudanese, people in the Gulf Coast, Pakistan, they can’t get any.” Clooney said he hoped that there was “a very bright person right here in this room (LA’s Nokia Center) or at home watching who can help find a way to help keep the spotlight burning on the issues.”

It sounds like he really deserved that Award! It’s like he’s put forth a challenge in a leadership kind of way. What George Clooney said about where to focus the spotlight is definitely something for people who care about the world to think about…

By Sheri

JOHN HAMM WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND AT THE 2010 EMMYS

I got to see the new Mad Men episode plus watch the show win its 3rd Prime Time Emmy for Best Drama Series last night. John Hamm, who of course is soooo dreammyyy as the dashing Don Draper – and as himself – attended with his girlfriend, Jennifer Westfeldt. That’s them together in the photo above on the red carpet – both dressed to the max in Armani. Her dress is a delicate, water-colored silk with lace and Swarovski crystals!

Have you ever seen any man look better in a bow tie than John Hamm? (Did anyone else notice those sparkling blue eyes during the Emmys when the camera found him in it? Of course it found him, smart camera!) Yeah, well, in case my crush isn’t blatantly obvious enough, before I move away from this topic can I just say the Mad Men episode last night had a beautifully bare-chested Don Draper in nothing but boxer shorts. (Swoon. Faint.)

All hotness aside, this is as interesting a main character as there can ever be in a drama, don’t you think? It’s not just the looks and all that really. It’s always something more. I mean, he doesn’t have to say anything, we can always seem to know what Draper is thinking and feeling.  I find it realistic cuz isn’t he supposed to be the intense, quiet type of character?

And of course the whole cast is amazing! It was so great to see both an episode of the show and the cast of Mad Men last night. I think most of them were up on the Emmy stage at LA’s Nokia Theater to win their 3rd Best Drama award, weren’t they? I just know Don Draper/John Hamm was there, sigh…I’m sooooo pathetic!

By Sheri

PARIS HILTON’S LATEST MUG SHOT

Going for 3 dope possession charges – and managing to get out of them – in 3 months, Paris Hilton, 29, and boyfriend, Cy Waits, 34, get followed by cops in Las Vegas who think they see marijuana smoke coming out of their car window. But when they pull the couple over and check the vehicle, what do they find in Paris’ purse? Cocaine!

Well, I guess I have to say alleged purse because Paris told the police it wasn’t her purse! That reminds me of when Lindsay Lohan told the cops who found cocaine in her pants pocket that they weren’t her pants! Didn’t Hilton have ID in her purse?

Anyway, Paris Hilton was reported to hire celeb lawyer, David Chesnoff, and surprise, she is out of the police station in less than an hour after the bust on Friday, August 27, while her boyfriend had to spend the night in jail on a DUI charge. They both ended up being bonded out of felony cocaine possession allegations.

Paris being Paris sent a message to her fans with “hugs and kisses xoxo” and said “I’m so thankful for all the love and support you are giving me.” WTF Paris Hilton? You’re pulled over in Vegas with coke in your purse and pot smoke blowing out the window. Your boyfriend gets a DUI and a night in jail and you’re released from the police office in less than an hour – you weren’t helping children in a foreign country or anything.

(Wait, that was Lindsay Lohan again! Remember when she used getting photographed with children by saying she was working with them and it was all an excuse as to why she missed her court date?)

Will Paris Hilton keep up her record of getting busted for drugs once a month? Stay tuned…

By Sheri

ANGELINA JOLIE NOW A DIRECTOR, WRITER AND PRODUCER

Recently, Angelina Jolie traveled to Sarajevo to direct her first film, as yet untitled, but said to be written by the mom of 6. (Come on, did she really write it all or is it just like she added so much direction and production input, she earned writing creds?) The picture is a love story about a Serbian (oops almost wrote suburban lol) man and a Bosnian woman during the 1992 – 1995 Bosnian war. Jolie was also in Sarajevo in her official capacity as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help refugees.

If there’s anyone who can superbly combine Hollywood super-stardom with saving the world, it’s Angelina Jolie. But the hot actress (yes, but I still like  non-homewrecker Jennifer Aniston better), now turned director, writer and producer, insists that “This film is a love story, not a political statement.” Jolie, who won’t be acting in the movie, (gee why not, maybe she can do make up and costumes too) did want to hire local actors. “I would like to involve as many local people as possible and learn as much as I can,” she said.

Angelina will be working on the film along with Graham King who is the “GK” in the GK Films behind the project. Graham King is business partners with Tim Headington. Although filmed in Sarajevo, the movie with be in English and is said to have a low budget of $15 million.

If the film does good at the box office, then I wonder if Angelina Jolie will be doing more directing, producing and writing? I guess if she wants to, she will. (You know I just had a flashback of how amazingly good she was as an actress in Girl, Interrupted. It was supposed to be Winona Ryder’s vehicle, and I guess it still was, but Angelina Jolie became a power actress after that — deservedly so!)

Next up, Jolie is set to act with Johnny Depp in the upcoming GK Films thriller, The Tourist. (Depp and Jolie? Great cheekbones of the world unite!)

By Sheri

PERSONALITY DISORDER OR JUST YOUNG & EMOTIONAL?

If it’s not one thing, does it necessarily have to be another? In other words how many times can Lindsay Lohan be diagnosed? After years of people concluding she must be a drug addict, alcoholic or both, it turns out, according to TMZ and apparently leaked reports the from UCLA medical center, that she’s neither.

After being detoxed from alcohol, Adderall, Ambien, Dilaudid, Nexium, Trazodone and Zoloft, Lohan is rumored to have shown absolutely no withdrawal symptoms! Not only that, apparently bipolar disorder has been ruled out as well as ADHD. She had been diagnosed with ADHD and was taking the Adderall for that, but now the rumor is that UCLA says Lindsay was misdiagnosed.

It seems Lindsay Lohan is quite the enigma that no one can seem to figure out. The latest diagnosis is possibly Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but hey, really, aren’t they just grasping at straws at this point? Aren’t they just looking for a conveniently ambiguous label to stick onto Lindsay’s forehead to try and make sense of her car crashes, drug taking, partying, missing court, having F You on her fingernails in court while crying that she doesn’t get what she did wrong?

Maybe, just maybe, Lindsay Lohan is just young, emotional and rebellious? She’s been a model/actress in the public eye since she was a kid and is still, at 24, earning money to support her family. Her mom parties with her and seems even less mature than she is. Her dad uses every chance he can get to hog the media spotlight in her name. I’d be full of energetic angst too…

I just hope the rumored BPD diagnosis, if true, isn’t based on her just being emotional and impulsive as well as sexually confused as some literature about BPD states. That could well be biased, since most of America is still often “sexually confused” about other people’s sexuality in seeing only the black and white of gay or straight rather than acknowledging the existence of the gray area of bisexuality. (Ironically, a sign of BPD is supposed to be seeing only black and white!)Yeah, some people are bisexual ya know. Lindsay Lohan said she was and it doesn’t mean she’s totally “sexually confused” per se!

In light of the new information that she’s no addict after all, Lindsay’s rehab time will most likely be cut short and she’ll probably have to just have outpatient treatment if she is diagnosed with BPD. A hearing about her early release is scheduled for this Wednesday, August 25.

By Sheri

OPRAH’S NEW TV ENVIRONMENT DEEMED “HOSTILE”

The OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) has had it’s launch date pushed ahead a few times with the latest one being January 2011. It’s sure not completely clear for take off yet with the recent scandal of OWN cable channel ex-employee, Catherine Dunn, suing Oprah’s new TV home for discrimination in a “hostile work environment.” The lawsuit was filed on Friday, August 13. (Ooooh, I frickin’ wonder if Oprah now has Friggatriskaidekaphobia! (a fear of Friday the 13th)

Dunn, who has multiple sclerosis (MS), began working for OWN in Autumn, 2008. She claims she was let go for wrongful dismissal because of her MS. Okay, off the top, you wouldn’t think someone with Oprah’s apparent values would allow that, but you know it’s probably not like she was running that department herself or anything. Still.. It makes you wonder and discrimination does happen for all kinds of reasons, so who knows for sure?

Catherine Dunn alleges her wrongful dismissal from the Oprah Winfrey Network occurred when she was forced to take a leave of absence, then was replaced during that time. (You know, that same thing happened to me on my scheduled legal mat leave, and moi sued and won!) If she and her lawyers can prove the reason was actually discrimination due to her MS, she might damn well win her case. Guess Oprah can afford to lawyer up, though.

Anyway, since there were several delays since the Oprah Winfrey Network started up about 3 years ago, and now this glitch, the January 2011 date may end up being moved again – or not. If it does ever get on the air, the OWN cable channel is supposed to hit about 80 million TV sets and feature shows with Oprah herself as well as Shania Twain and Donald Trump’s favorite gal ( ha!), Rosie O’Donnell.

By Sheri

‘ILLEGAL EXIT’ FLIGHT ATTENDANT STEVEN SLATER

Some people just have style! Right or wrong behavior, one thing you can’t take away from Steven Slater, is his style. How many of us faced with customers treating us badly wished we could just disappear? Well, Slater, a flight attendant for JetBlue airlines, was dealing with a difficult customer who was said by some to have dropped a suitcase from the overhead compartment on Slater’s head during the argument.

Maybe that was the last straw, because Steven Slater decided he’d had enough no matter what the consequences apparently. He inflated the emergency exit slide (a big no no) and grabbed two beers on his way down. What an exit! Of course, his leave of his job duties was soon blasted on You Tube and all over the news. Slater has become a cult hero with at least 15 minutes of fame.

There’s been a lot of talk that Steven Slater will be able to have a reality show if he wants it. I have to admit, I’d watch it! I mean, come on, the guy couldn’t take anymore and he didn’t hit the guy or do a Mel Gibson rant on him on anything, but instead rather elegantly removed himself from the situation!

Slater doesn’t regret his decision. He even wore a small smile as he stepped into court to face the music. The price he had to pay for his non-emergency emergency exit was set at $2,500 bail. His charges were criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and trespassing. Well, personally, I don’t think what he did was that bad, but yeah they have to be tough on Slater I guess so that others don’t try it.

On the HLN network, they did a poll asking viewers if Steven Slater should get his own reality show. 94% said yes! Come on, networks!

By Sheri

LEVI JOHNSTON TO FOLLOW SARAH PALIN?

I’m sorry to report that apparently Levi Johnston finally got a reality show like he and Bristol Palin were rumored to have been trying for. (Well, except Bristol really wanted to live a “quiet life” reportedly out of the media — something that Johnston is definitely allergic to!)

According to TMZ, Johnston and his producers are set for the filming of his own reality show soon — probably as we speak. Apparently, several networks are interested in the show which is thought to be (ridiculously) titled: “Loving Levi: The Road to the Mayor’s Office.” The premise is not the same as what Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston were originally going to have – a focus on their relationship and raising son, Tripp.

The producers wanted the show to include Levi running for mayor in his (and Sarah Palin’s) hometown of Wasilla, Alaska. Bristol’s famous (or infamous depending on your political viewpoint!) mom, Sarah Palin, was first on the City Council, before becoming Mayor of Wasilla. The other focus of “Loving Levi” is said to be Johnston’s pursuit of a career in Hollywood. (Oh barf! There goes my lunch…)

Okay, I’ll admit the guy is amazingly good looking (like a Donny Osmond/Nick Lachey cross), but isn’t he missing… I don’t know… A PERSONALITY? Just sayin…

Well, if Sarah Palin didn’t hate his guts enough already I’d say this new show following her footsteps running for mayor, along with cheating on her daughter would just about tighten the noose. After their on again, off again, engagement, I guess Bristol Palin just had enough after Levi Johnston confessed to her that he may be the father of his currently pregnant ex-girlfriend!

BTW, Media hog Levi Johnston showed up with his co-star in an upcoming music video (and fairly close Bristol Palin look-alike), Brittani Senser, at the Teen Choice Awards on Monday, August 9.

By Sheri

WHOOPI’S “ARM TAP” VERSUS MICHAELE’S “ARM GRAB”

Some people just can’t (or won’t!) do anything without making a scandal out of it – even appearing on a morning show to promote another TV show. So is the case for Michaele Salahi – the female half of the infamous party crashing pair who made news last November for attending the White House State Dinner without an invite.

Salahi appeared on The View recently with other women who’ll be starring (ha) on the latest of the “Real Housewives” series, The Real Housewives of DC. (This Michaele Salahi is so fake and unlikable that, no, I won’t be watching that show although I loved Vicki Gunvalson on the Orange County version and Jill Zarin on the New York one!) Anyway, as anyone who has ever watched The View even once knows, the moderator or stage director guides everyone back on topic.

Well, Whoopi Goldberg is the moderator. As she wasn’t in the segment with Michaele Salahi and the other DC Housewives, Goldberg came up to her side and touched Salahi’s arm while telling her to get back on the White House topic. Then, after the show, a huge brouhaha (oh yay! I got to use that word!) erupted about hitting/grabbing/hurting the arm. I think Salahi was just pissed about being noticed for not answering questions about the Obama dinner party crashing – she’s not too bright at all this woman IMHO.

I mean, as if avoiding the questions while still insisting you were invited when it’s clear she and her husband weren’t (The Secret Service have evidence!) wasn’t bad enough, how stupid is it to pick a fight with Goldberg that can plainly be resolved by viewing the tape of The View segment? Yeah, if you watch it, you can see that it wasn’t an aggressive thing on Whoopi’s part. It was kind of a power thing since Whoopi is the moderator; Salahi shouldn’t have been so stupid as to try and make any kind of deal about it!

Anyway, while I certainly don’t appreciate Whoopi Goldberg jumping to Mel Gibson’s defence by saying he isn’t a racist when clearly, yes, the man is and has a big problem in that area, I do appreciate her standing up for herself against Salahi. Whoopi gets in her face and tells her “You know I didn’t f***ing hit you” to which Salahi says she cried and was offended by the profanity. (Oh give me a break, did you think Whoopi Goldberg was a delicate flower? LOL!)

By the way, Michaele Salahi and her husband, Tareq, aren’t only still under investigation for the White House party crashing incident, but also reportedly have at least 30 lawsuits filed against them including not paying vendors for lavish parties/fundraisers. Michaele is also alleged to have a big habit of buying dresses to wear once, then return.

By Sheri

JULIE CHEN WILL BE ON CBS DAILY, “THE TALK”

Imagine a new, daily parenting show with a bunch of women hosts that’s like The View, but hopefully a lot less annoying. Well, that’s the premise of the hour long, The Talk, that CBS has scheduled to replace the demise of the long running serial, As The World Turns. I’m intrigued because the idea for the show is said to be Sara Gilbert’s (Darlene Conner from the Roseanne sitcom) and she specifically wanted Julie Chen. I think these two alone will be way more interesting than any of the women on The View (Joy Behar being the exception! Love her!) Anyway, as if Julie Chen and Sara Gilbert aren’t enough, Celebrity Apprentice alums, Sharon Osbourne and Holly Robinson Peete will join them.
(There are two others too, but frankly I don’t give a damn!)

I’ve only seen Julie Chen on Big Brother (glued to that show!) but she’s apparently been on CBS’ The Early Show for like 8 years. Chen’s a stepmom to 3 older kids, but her son, Charlie, will be turning 1 year old in September. I just find her so intriguing on Big Brother because she’s always so controlled, yet somehow really awesome. I don’t think too many people can pull that combo off well!

That particular blend has earned Julie Chen the nickname “Chenbot.” What’s really cool is that it doesn’t faze her in the least. She owned it, which impresses the hell out of me for some reason (guess I’m not all that hard to impress!). But come on, she’s actually said “I am the Chenbot” and she knows the reason why. It’s her “precise on-air style” she’ll tell you.

Go Julie Chen! I don’t want the Summer to end, but at least when it does and the chill of fall is faintly in the air I’ll have The Talk to look forward to!