Actor David Hyde Pierce, who delightfully played “Niles” for years on the hit sitcom Frasier, has come out the closet and announced to the entertainment press that he’s gay. I heard the item reported this morning on a New York City FM radio newscast.
Is it just me or is that kind o’ like Nicole Richie going on Access: Hollywood and to announce that she’s skinny?
And probably not a one of the reporters was wise enough to say, “Duh.”
I’m not reviewing that new movie on Friday’s radio show, because I’m pretty sure that the host would not let me say the title on our family-driven morning program. So, I’ll write you that Knocked Up is one of the funniest romantic comedies I’ve seen this year. It’s from the writer/director Judd Apatow, the man who gave us The 40-Year-Old Virgin. If you liked that one, you will love this one.
A gorgeous, down-to-earth Hollwood entertainment reporter meets a stocky, furry, regular bear of a slacker guy at a club. She’s attracted to him and they hook up. That fact alone makes it the kind of movie that gives me hope. Just like in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” the dudes all have major Peter Pan Syndrome — they’re grown men who really haven’t grown up. The slacker in “Knocked Up” lives with other bearcubs and they watch DVDs all day. The reporter is trying to distinguish herself at work. She discovers that she’s pregnant from their one-night stand and that’s the beginning of the bigger discovery. The two people who look totally mismatched are really perfect for each other. True…the boy talk is obscene, crude, rude and silly … but underneath it all, there’s a sweet and smart movie at play showing us that true love has a lot more to do with the heart than hot looks — even in Los Angeles. Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl have something together onscreen that you don’t often see in major studio romantic comedies nowadays — chemistry. You want them to get together. I’m going to see it again.
Or maybe I should just go to a club and try to meet a slacker bear who thinks I’m a gorgeous entertainment reporter.
Rosie O’Donnell is new out of THE VIEW. What’s next for her? I think she’ll either be named the host of a big game show — or she’ll become a hockey referee. Whaddayou think? Personally, I’d like to see her and Sean Hayes from WILL & GRACE star in a special TV production of WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? But that’s just me.
If you see Pirates of the Caribbean 3 , here’s something I mentioned on today’s radio show with Whoopi Goldberg that I haven’t read (yet) in any of the print reviews. Besides the really confusing plot, there was one element that came through clear as a bell. This new sequel takes a big serious swipe at the Bush Administration through the character of Lord Beckett. He’s a symbol of corporate greed over duty to his people. If you see it, pay attention to him in the gigantic final battle scene and think of President Bush reading a kiddie book about a goat minutes after America had been attacked on Sept. 11th. If you see it, let me know what you think.
www.Whoopi.com
Go there, look for “Bobby Rivers, Entertainment” on the right-hand side and click on for my written comments on other films out now. My section even has clips from the current two flicks I reviewed. (OK…enough with the self-promotion. But check out my section. I’m so much more fun than some of those wrinkled Anglos on news shows talking about movies. Yes, I just went there!)
We have a new, young American Idol. Congratulations, Jordin Sparks!
OK….now let’s talk Old School — one of the special guests last night. Love me some Smokey Robinson. He was one of my favorite guests on my VH1 weeknight talk show back in the day. It’s not unusual for high-profile people in show business to have a little “work done” to keep up appearances. BUT…is it just me or does Smokey Robinson now look like Miyoshi Umeki on The Courtship of Eddie’s Father with a perm? Can he even blink anymore?
Frankly, I’m concerned.
By now, you’ve probably heard the entertainment news that Paula Abdul broke her nose when she tripped over her dog.
Here’s a news bulletin to Mr. & Mrs. America and all you ships at sea — Paula Abdul has been trippin’ for years.
Yes..I will be watching American Idol tonight.
When I worked at WNBC years ago, I often heard Al Roker tell this joke in the hallways — “When can you see stone turn to wood? Every time he’s the host of Dateline: NBC!”
Veteran newsman Stone Phillips got downsized after working on the network for over a decade. I’ve never met him, but I wish him the best. Not getting your contract renewed after years of duty can be a jolt, but he’ll land something again real soon. I’m sure of it.
I saw Pirates of the Caribbean 3 last night. All of the pirates kept chanting “Yo, Ho! Yo, Ho!”
Al Sharpton is already picketing theaters scheduled to show it. I don’t think he really knows that much about pirate lore and lingo. Al’s making a big mistake here. But that’s just me.
The movie should be called Pirates of the Caribeean 3 Hours Long. When last night’s press preview finally ended (there are five minutes of credits and then one last scene), instead of applause, you heard audience members chanting, “Thank God, Thank God.” We sat still for so long, it was like a cattle call audition to play the lead in the Connee Boswell Story. (Google her name. Read her info on www.imdb.com. Knowledge is power.) Walt Disney would be a bit concerned about this new product coming out of his studio. Catch my review Friday on Whoopi’s radio show.