May 2006 Archives

by Laura Saltman

No more "American Idol". What is a girl to do? Being the couch potato that I am, I guess it's time to catch up on all the TV I missed while giving up my entire life and career to following the journey of 12 aspiring singers.

I will admit to having a little bit of withdrawal and actually watching "The E! True Hollywood Story" on "American Idol" over the weekend.There weren't actually any big revelations on the show but it was interesting to see how the show has evolved from Season One.

OK. Wait. It wasn't all about "American Idol." Monday nights are usually filled up with some major nail biting while watching "Prison Break" and then "24."

So, with those two brilliant shows off for the summer, I switched over to catch some comedy.Now keep in mind, I'm a thirty-something female so I can imagine this show is not everyone's cup of tea but I'll easily admit to enjoying Julia Louis-Dreyfus's new sitcom, "The New Adventures of Old Christine."

Angelina and Brad had their baby at the outset of Memorial Day weekend, Saturday night... they always do.

Nick and Jessica split the day before Thanksgiving.

Ben and J.Lo parted ways on a Tuesday late afternoon heading into Golden Globes weekend, although J.Lo used the occasion (the Globes) for her first foray as a single woman.

Sometimes I think the stars plan things this way, but how can you time a baby's birth to the moment people are maximally preoccupied?

Those things should not pop into my head during a godly moment such as a birth. But I am in the business of translating these events and after a while, a certain numbness can pervade.

Quick thoughts on Idol...

The power of this show astounds me. The quality of this finale was supreme...when 'Idol' debuted in 2002, the music industry shrugged it off as amateur and beneath them.  That has so clearly changed. Mary J, Blige, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach...and, believe me I was floored, Prince!
Bow to the Idol one and all ...This show is the brightest light in Music and TV.

Taylor's win was no surprise. After watching him live last night, I got it.  (Nancy is loving this from her perch...i.e.. Heels, shhh.) I am finished underestimating Taylor.

Seacrest is a fantastic host. He operates this thing better than anyone could.  He owns it.

Five days in New York screamed by at internet speed'.(as long as you're NOT on dial-up) and then'in an instant 'came to a screeching stop'.with a mother, her dead son and a tear.

First'the warp speed of last Friday' sat down with the Dixie Chicks'.all three of them'feathers plucked clean by conservative country radio in the three years since lead singer Natalie Maines statement on a London stage (just before the war) saying she was ashamed President Bush is from Texas (their home state). From millions of albums sold to absolutely nothing in the blink of an eye'or the time it takes for a radio station suite to listen to a caller threaten to never listen to the station if it ever played the Chicks again.

Have to admit'not a big country music fan'although my uncle played with some of the legends back in the '50s/'60s' (I prefer a chaser of Rock) I have warmed to the Chicks music'specifically their new album "Taking the Long Way."

A couple of quick notes today:

First of all, I am so glad Billy has finally seen the light! He and I have been arguing about Taylor Hicks since the beginning of this season's "American Idol." I loved Taylor since the very first episode when they showed him at auditions and I KNEW he would make it all the way to the finals. Billy had his doubts and said Taylor was a Vegas act (which, by the way, I don't think people can continue to use that negatively... two of the best singers on this planet, Celine Dion and Elton John are Vegas acts). Billy went to "American Idol" last night and now, after seeing Taylor perform in person and hearing the crowd's reaction, Billy says he gets it.

Monday in New York.

Beautiful day in Central Park...blue sky...nice temps...flowers blooming and women screaming...hustling to get into position.

Position for what you ask' To get a shot of Patrick Dempsey. You know, the scrubbable (is that a word') Dr. McDreamy on "Grey's Anatomy".

We are walking and talking on the set of his new Disney movie, 'Enchanted," which is shooting at the south end of the park which means there is a ton of foot traffic.

I begin this blog at 5:15 pacific time. Taylor Hicks just finished an explosive first round; he wasn't just "Living for the City", he just sold me on the fact he'll soon be singing for living.

Ricky Martin is a good singer but a top notch entertainer. That's Taylor Hicks and he lit this room on fire the moment his big grin and purple velvet jacket hit the screen.  In the words of Randy..."It was hot".

Nancy will rejoice when she reads this...she's said it all along.

I had never interviewed Vince Vaughn before last night's premiere of "The Break-Up." And he IS that guy women SAY they want.

If you read one of those man polls in a women's magazine, typically, the consensus will be the average woman wants a guy with a great sense of humor first, then personality, followed by looks. After four years of marriage to dude with six pack abs and model good looks, Aniston went that route.

My first impression of Vince was everything I expected and more. He's an Alpha male who's funny - perfect wingman for a daytime Cubs game with brews and dogs... little bar hopping after - but very warm and engaging. He looks you in the eye and makes you like him.

Boy, did our segment at the end of Thursday's Access Hollywood with Kellie Pickler prompt a few angry e-mails from viewers.

For the record right off the top, I was NOT laughing AT Kellie Pickler, I was laughing WITH her. If I had been making fun of her, then I would have been making fun of myself. I grew up from birth through college in South Carolina in a modest upbringing... I may have tamed my major Southern accent I had through college to be able to do the job I do, but trust me, I am as country as they come and proud of it!

For those of you who don't know how a show like ours work, let me explain. You, as viewers, see maybe an eighth of an actual interview. Every interview has to be cut up and edited to be able for us to do our jobs as an entertainment news show and deliver numerous stories to the viewers in a short amount of time. So a lot of what is said in an interview never makes air.

 As you all know, American Idol made a big deal out of Kellie's cuteness in mispronouncing calamari.

This is how I started that Kellie Pickler segment of her trying to pronounce other foods: I told Kellie I had grown up Southern and had trouble pronouncing fancy foods myself when I first came to L.A. (because all I knew when I came was fried chicken and grits...and then couldn't even find grits in Hollywood grocery stores). Then we both had fun laughing TOGETHER about these fancy food words I had encountered...words, which she may now hear, with her being new in the sometimes pretentious Hollywood arena.

I am stunned. The reviews for "The Da Vinci Code" are brutal. Anything other than tepid is cause for alarm. Here are the 'See it/Skip it' results on the show tonight:

THE DA VINCI CODE

Variety                             Skip

I just interviewed Mike Wallace... Oh, he met his match. 

We had some great laughs, especially when I complimented him on his legendary career: "No one will forget, you were first on the scene when Lincoln was shot..."

We discussed the roots of his tan (no spray' he's a tan gel guy). He was self-effacing and funny, when he said to me, "If I was good looking like you, I could have been a contender."

I have an apology to make.

On Wednesday's show, you heard me say, 'I'm afraid Elliott is gone tonight. It is shocking'

Which in hindsight, I can now see how that might have made it appear that I was giving away 'Idol' results ' that is, had I actually known them.

I didn't. And I certainly didn't mean to ruin the excitement of watching the show live.

My family and I rooted the entire season for Elliott, and I can only imagine how upset we would have been if someone was spoiling our 'Idol' experience.

'Idol' is obviously bigger than all of us. I understand it, and I am sorry.

I just met with NBC's entertainment President, Kevin Reilly, to talk about NBC's presentation of its Fall primetime schedule to advertisers today. I was working on less than 5 hours of sleep due to a late arrival last night so I hadn't seen any footage from the shows. I was going solely on what I've read and prevalent buzz.

The show Kevin and NBC are most excited about is "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," a drama set behind the scenes of a late-night sketch comedy show. Its creative power reunites the 'West Wing" minds of Tommy Schlamme (best name in town) and Aaron Sorkin, and stars Mathew Perry and Bradley Whitford. It is in fact good, but in my earnest opinion, NOT my favorite. 

Hollywood has so many different types of players...a lot of healthy egos, a lot of talent, some brilliant creative minds...some definite "hangers-on", opportunists and self-absorbed takers as well.

When I'm at my happiest is when I get to shine some light in the shadows of this town, where real good is taking place.  Our Hollywood Heroes pieces are exactly that. Whether it's chronicling the work Ben Affleck does on behalf of his young friend Joe Kindregan whose fighting Ataxia-Talengectasia, a rare neurological disease that so far has no cure.  Or Julianne Moore's willingness to help a random guy she met on the street (Tom Lindsey), whose son is fighting Tuberous Sclerosis, by raising money and lobbying congress.  There are many bright lights in Hollywood and just about a week ago, it happened again.

This is the first edition of Nancy's Notes.  I am looking forward to writing my thoughts and experiences on a regular basis to give people insight into what goes on when the cameras aren't rolling or aren't present.  There is so much about Hollywood that is either misunderstood or that goes without the proper attention.  Don't get me wrong, there is a lot that is accurately portrayed in the media (whether that's good or bad for the celebrity is up to their own actions), as we at Access Hollywood fact-check every story we do to make sure it is accurate.  However, as an entertainment reporter for 11 years, I have seen a lot happen that I wish more people knew about and I have had experiences that I have always thought would be entertaining or insightful and I
am going to share some of those with you. You can take it or leave it, believe it or not, agree or disagree, laugh or cry, for better or worse...there, disclaimer made.  So to use the Access expression, "Nancy's Notes starts RIGHT NOW"...

One thing I've learned as a husband is this:  if your wife tells you her dress is yellow and it really is orange, like Home Depot orange, you say, 'honey, that's a pretty YELLOW dress.' 

There's a reason why women live longer than us men. I'm just trying to catch up.

Armed with that knowledge, I held the hand of the pistol also known as Salma Hayek, helping her up the steps of our platform at last night's 'Poseidon' premiere and told her she looked fabulous in her purple outfit.

Spent my lunch hour Monday sitting in a San Fernando Valley apartment with a woman named Del while she chatted online with men who wanted to have sex with a '13-year old girl.'

Suffice to say, never had a lunch hour quite like that before nor have I had an interview like that during my seven years here at 'Access Hollywood.'

Not only was it eye opening, but as the father of two girls, it scared the beejeebers outta me.

Del was online, posing as a 13-year-old girl, and within seconds of logging on? she already had a 35-year-old man chatting with her. He thought she was 13 and home alone. Within 17 minutes, this 35-year-old man turned the chatting, with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl, to sex. Did I mention he's 35? And believes she's 13

Where men and women ultimately differ can be surmised in the Fox Show, "Prison Break". I love that show. Last night, I was visibly uncomfortable, tense, scared, anxious...all that great stuff.

My wife believes those are exactly reasons why not to watch a show. She prefers the emotional angst of a "Grey's Anatomy".

Please don't get me wrong, I'm a McDreamy fan that can grip a tissue box as tight as any. I think the Vet, the great Chris O'Donnell, is the ideal anti-man, the tender warrior preferred by so many women today. I strive to be THAT man.

But, the wrongs of prison life..., the murderer, the wronged guy on death row, the violence, the uncomfortable roommate situation for some inmates...the need to sleep on your back if you know what I mean. Guys, like, ultimately freak out over that stuff.

Anyway, my marriage is on hold Mondays between 8 and 9 p.m. I choose to be blissfully uncomfortable. My wife does a sudoku.

But, we'll always have Sunday.

An awkward thing happened to me today. I was halfway through playing in the
Michael Douglas and Friends Celebrity-Amateur tournament...we stopped at the
grill for a burger.

Heather Locklear (pictured with Billy in an older interview) and her foursome were finishing their lunch and heading back out to play. One of my teammates, Cheryl Ladd popped over to say "Hi"...I was walking by and I did too.

I don't know Heather too well, but I thought it polite.

As soon as I started chatting with her, two publicists started shouting "Time to go. She has to go."

"Uh...Bye", I said.

I received an email from Christina Aguilera's publicist. She pointed out that the interview was scheduled for somewhere between six and nine PM, and that my blog entry (previous to this) was unfair to Christina.

We may have miscommunicated on the time, and I feel I should point out that music video sets are always way behind and touch and go.  Maybe my ego was bruised.

Underneath, I may have expected Christina to come out of her trailer, say "hi" and explain. After all, I'm there with an audience in the millions to promote her new album.

(Billy pictured with Christina in an older Access interview)

Here it is Tuesday night...I have just spent two hours waiting around the music video set of Christina Aguilera's, "Ain't No Other Man". She and I did not do the interview.

I was looking forward to this I must admit...she's a totally unpredictable, unstoppable singer and an interesting personality...gone are the chaps; its retro '30s and '40s with her on this current reinvention. Add to the artistic changes, a husband with whom she's laid low over the six months, I was intrigued at who I'd find infront of me.

In Touch Weekly released a story that alleges Ryan Seacrest and Paula Abdul are in couples therapy because they haven't spoken for more than three weeks... things are that icy.

How uninspired can it get? I read that story this morning and realized there are just too many outlets reporting celebrity news. Poor 'In Touch' is looking for their piece of the pie, a story that they can put out there and hope others will glom onto (and others will, like morning radio shows whose vetting system is limited to an intern printing it from the Web and handing it to the DJ).

According to our sources, it isn't true and it's a great example of the celebrity bubble getting ever closer to popping.

I interviewed Lindsay Lohan on Friday afternoon. She was very late as
usual, but I'm used to that with her. I had nothing important to race to so
I hung out in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel talking to a wise man in
TV. He's a very popular personality, someone I consider a friend, and we
had a great discussion.

When people think they know how much money somebody makes, especially in TV where it's our job to make it look easy and it turns out to be a lot... it's harmful to
said personality. It has been widely reported and people think they know how much Katie Couric made at "The Today Show," give or take a few million (15 mil per year),
they know how much Meredith Vieira is getting to replace her (10 mil); they think they
know Matt Lauer's contract was adjusted to reflect his seniority (13 mil per
year).