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I recently interviewed Bono and The Edge... nicest, most humble guys in rock 'n' roll.
Over 30 years together and not one rocker cliche applies -- nobody's ever quit, nobody's punched a photog (although it's documented Edge punched Bono right in the kisser!), no overdose...
Bono and Edge's two sons are close friends and are making music together on Garage Band... Bono said, "If we get this U2 thing right, we might have a franchise!" Must be tough for those boys to play their beats for their dads, where the toughest critics also love you more than any men alive.
Justin Long owes me an apology and Ellen owes Justin Long an apology. Neither needs to be a long apology. Ha ha!
Yesterday on "Ellen," Justin shared a story about being on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Break-Up" starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston, the film that brought them together as a couple.
Justin said that I had asked him about his worst break-up on the red carpet.
At that moment, his current breakup, unbeknownst to the public, was fresh... the day before. So he began to tell me. He said I was looking over his shoulder at Jennifer Aniston because she had just arrived - i.e. that I was blowing him off.
What kind of vacuous superficial guy would do that?
Apparently me!
Not so!
He smoked some pot at a party and someone took a photo. A tabloid from another country, perhaps eager to knock a symbol of American greatness, published it.
Other cool, rap-listening, video game and poker-playing dudes have looser rules to live by. Michael has big-time sponsors relying on his All-Americanism. Imagine his team of handlers, agents and his MOM hunkering down in lead agent Peter Carlisle's office at The Octagon Sports Agency freaking out about which sponsors might bail. It's got to be happening.
Yesterday I weighed in on the Brad and Angelina red carpet snub for Seacrest.In short, if you're any good, "it happens." Ryan is and thus it can happen. Most red carpet mic holders are so safe and buttery that they make the whole "arrivals" thing fodder for haters.
But apparently it's Seacrest's turn in the barrel right now.
Tuesday night he high-fived a blind guy... Hey, it happens. Realizing it quickly, Ryan made up for it by telling the guy and taking his hand to complete the universal sign of approval. Scott McIntyre, the contestant, didn't care... Why should anyone else?
Everybody's asking me about Brad and Angie stopping for me and not Seacrest.It happens, especially with the big stars that arrive late, that sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't.
Then, someone showed me this from an Us Magazine posting today:
"Jolie and Pitt did stop for NBC's Billy Bush, but Seacrest said, 'there's an NBC deal there. NBC hosted the Globes, and they have a deal to talk to the people who come to the Globes.
"Here's what I realized when I went down there,' Seacrest went on. 'I realized quickly that it's against the rules to walk down onto the carpet from the platform."
Ryan must be assuming I was doing the official NBC pre-show whose producers, like all those running official live telecasts, try as hard as they can to set up commitments from stars in advance.
America is great and we all have to be willing to serve....better to be willing when you're actually being forced.
Jury duty...that civic responsibility so mundane in its execution, but essential to the liberties our forefathers and mothers asked for and received back in the 1700s.
A jury of our peers to decide our fate...what an awesome system.
Last night, while shooting our show, a woman was standing in the crowd, holding this baby. I took a picture. Many others did too... this baby represents the youth of this country... steeped in history but young in capitalism and open society. There is innocence to all the people in China. They are very gracious and optimistic, patient and hopeful. That baby says it all to me. I've tried to explain it.
I am currently waiting for Phelps at the side door to the “Water Cube”... an interview is my quest. The great thing about covering the Olympics, if you want to do it right, is you have to be willing to run, sweat, linger by a door, hustle and bump. We're doing that and you're all watching.
Thanks.
I am inside and watching the Mens' gymnastics finals and the U.S. team, massively the underdog, is doing well. We’re in the middle of rotation #4 out of 6; the U.S. Team is 2nd. China just passed them. Our guys are performing nearly flawlessly. The Chinese are loud and proud. This guy next to me (see photo) is so loud my eardrum nearly popped a minute ago.
"China! China!"… That's how it goes... not very complex, but solid enough.
China is expected to win. Maybe I'll have a "Zelig" moment and run out there on the mat mid Chinese routine... to sacrifice for country... maybe not.
These guys all have the same bodies. It’s amazing. Stout, buff, compact. Gluteus muscles that could crack walnuts. Sorry... stream of conscience here.
Go USA!!
The opening of the opening ceremony is nothing short of spectacular. The technological prowess is mind numbing.
Over an hour in, there was a message of global warming..."Ice caps are melting," etc...the odd thing is nowhere is pollution worse than right here in Beijing it seems. The sky above me every day is daunting.
Sorry, it's the truth. It had to be said, now moving on.
Two hours and 40 minutes into the ceremony, a USA athlete was escorted out of the building. Maybe he had to go to the bathroom. He returned about 25 mins later.
The parade of nations is seemingly endless.
We are two hours early for the opening ceremony here in Beijing. Rob Silverstein, our Executive Producer, and I are sweating like two Greco-Roman wrestlers in a sauna.
That said, our shirts are off and faces are painted....I kid.
The "Bird's Nest" is massive in size. The flags of the 205 countries participating in the Beijing games hang breezelessly limp but proud.
The idea that some 160,000 some odd people will in some capacity fill this stadium at the peak is almost unthinkable.