CNN Political Contributor Roland Martin vs GLAAD

Ross — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:19:26 +0000

CNN political contributor Roland Martin is the subject of a GLAAD call to action with the organization demanding CNN pull Martin from its shows.

GLAAD says Martin’s social media postings lately are akin to gay bashing — their words. At one point during the Super Bowl last night, Martin wrote:

GLAAD then took to Twitter, and Martin responded back:

At 10:35am February 6, 20120, there was more explanation from Martin, on Twitter:

“Fam, let me address the issue that some in the LGBT community have raised regarding some of my Super Bowl tweets yesterday. I made several cracks about soccer as I do all the time. I was not referring to sexuality directly or indirectly regarding the David Beckham ad, and I’m sorry folks took it otherwise. It was meant to be a deliberately over the top and sarcastic crack about soccer; I do not advocate violence of any kind against anyone gay, or not. As anyone who follows me on Twitter knows, anytime soccer comes up during football season it’s another chance for me to take a playful shot at soccer, nothing more.”

Brad Pitt Says Angelina Jolie is “Still a Bad Girl”

Ross — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:18:43 +0000

Despite her humanitarian work and their six children, Angelina Jolie has retained some of her wild ways, according to Brad Pitt.

During a Monday sit-down with “CBS This Morning,” Pitt was shown a clip from Jolie’s recent “60 Minutes” interview, in which she said “I’m still a bad girl,” but that that side of her “belongs to Brad” now.

Pitt happily confirmed the description, saying, ”She’s still a bad girl… delightfully so.”

(Source: CBS and GossipCop.com)

Matt Lauer Lands Pre-Super Bowl Obama Interview

Ross — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:27:43 +0000

Matt Lauer stayed behind in New York today while his “Today” family was in Indianapolis ahead of the Super Bowl Sunday. Lauer will be at the White House this weekend for the annual live pre-game presidential interview.

Bill O’Reilly did it last year on FOX. Katie Couric, then with CBS, conducted the pre-game interview in 2010 arriving just ahead of that year’s Snowpocalypse. And Lauer, whose contract with NBC ends later this year, conducted an interview in 2009, a couple weeks after Obama took office, but not without some “technical difficulties.”

(Source: MediaBistro.com/TVNewzer)

Ellen Challenges Michelle Obama to Push-Up Competition

Ross — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:26:08 +0000

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Ellen DeGeneres asked First Lady Michelle Obama who could do more push-ups, and the two ended up squaring off in a competition to see which lady had more upper body strength. Michelle Obama has devoted her bully pulpit to getting children into shape.

(Source: StyleLite.com)

‘Live! With Kelly’ Executive Producer on Regis’ Replacement

Ross — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:02:44 +0000

A couple of months after 80-year-old Regis Philbin exited “Live! With Regis and Kelly” and took his name in the title along with him, Kelly Ripa has been welcoming a succession of fill-in co-hosts. A number of them — no one’s saying just who — are auditioning on-the-air to land the job for keeps.

It’s a process that Gelman, the show’s executive producer, calls dating, and, as fans wait for the show to pop the question weeks or months from now, “Live!” is sowing its wild oats. (“Live! With Kelly,” which airs in syndication weekdays at 9 a.m. EST in many markets, this week will feature guest co-hosts Daniel Radcliffe, Howie Mandel, Peter Facinelli and D.L. Hughley).

“We’ve just scratched the surface of people out there,” executive produce Michael Gelman says, adding, “We have enjoyed a lot of people who have already co-hosted, and we’re bringing a bunch of them back for more ‘dates.’”

That first batch of callbacks will include Jerry O’Connell, Dana Carvey, Seth Meyers and Michael Strahan.

“But I’m not saying there’s a short list,” insists Gelman. “Every day we come up with new ideas, and we get new revelations about who the new host should or shouldn’t be. The chemistry is key — and not just with Kelly, but with the audience and the staff and the format.”

(Source: HuffingtonPost.com)

Suze Orman Defends ‘Suze Orman’ Credit Card: “Just Trust Me”

Ross — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:57:10 +0000

The Suze Orman-sponsored prepaid credit card has taken a lot of heat, so Orman appeared on ‘Piers Morgan Tonight’ yesterday evening, where she defended the card and its fees.

When Morgan brought up some of the criticism that’s been geared at the card, Orman’s method of fighting back was to invoke an “after this many years in the business do you really think I’d do that” defense.

(Source: CNN)

Meredith Vieira Joins ‘Rock Center’ on Feb. 8

Ross — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:49:47 +0000

Meredith Vieira will make her debut appearance on “Rock Center with Brian Williams” at 9 p.m. on February 8 — and her first interview is with Mimi Alford, the author of a new book about her 18-month affair with President John F. Kennedy.

Vieira stepped down as co-host of “Today” last June to spend more time with her family. NBC News announced that she would start a new role at the network, and she was named a special correspondent for Brian Williams’ news magazine in September. She joins a roster of famous faces that includes Ted Koppel and Chelsea Clinton.

Vieira will sit down with Alford, who was a 19-year old White House intern when her affair with JFK began. Alford broke her silence about the relationship almost forty years after it happened. She had given a short statement about it for an oral history that was released with a biography of Kennedy, and the Daily News tracked her down to confirm the story.

In the interview, Alford tells Vieira why she is writing the book now and how she felt knowing that the president was married. This is the first episode of “Rock Center” on its new night on Wednesday.

(Source: HuffingtonPost.com)

Rosie O’Donnell Asks Dr. Oz to “Feel My Ass”

Ross — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:47:48 +0000

In an episode set to air on Thursday, Rosie O’Donnell got quite friendly with Dr. Oz during an appearance on his talk show.

O’Donnell was discussing how she believes she has a “distended, large stomach” that is disproportional to the rest of her body. To drive her point home, she told Dr. Oz to “feel [her] ass” and her “rock hard” thigh.

Dr. Oz obeyed and subsequently felt O’Donnell’s backside and thigh. “Whoa,” Dr. Oz said in response to what seemed like O’Donnell’s firm buttox. Dr. Oz began laughing and asked O’Donnell to turn around to show off her assets to the audience.

O’Donnell yelled, “Look at my ass! Feel that ass!” Dr. Oz gave O’Donnell’s backside a few pats, followed by a thumbs up to the audience. “That’s a good ass,” he said of O’Donnell’s bottom.

(Source: CBS-TV)

Jeff Rossen to Lead Investigative Unit for ‘Today’ Show

Ross — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:04:28 +0000

NBC News correspondent Jeff Rossen is getting a promotion. He’s been named National Investigative Correspondent for the “Today” show. Rossen will lead the newly created investigative unit, “Rossen Reports,” for the morning program. Robert Powell will be the senior producer of the unit.

Rossen and his team will also report investigative stories for “NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams” and “Dateline.” An insider draws a parallel between Rossen’s unit and the work of ABC’s chief investigative correspondent: “You have not seen a unit like this since the glory days of Brian Ross.”

Rossen joined NBC News in September 2008 from ABC’s New York station WABC.

(Source: MediaBistro.com/TVNewser)

Regis Philbin Appears in Super Bowl Pepsi Commercial

Ross — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:57:28 +0000

Regis Philbin is the star of a new Super Bowl commercial, where he helps torment a Coke Zero salesman who furtively tries to buy a bottle of Pepsi Max in a store. Instead of slipping away with his contraband, the guy winds up winning free Pepsi Max for life and being feted by Philbin, who says, “I’m back! And you’re my first guest.”

(Source: HuffingtonPost.com)

Who Will Land Pippa Middleton Interview?

Ross — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:55:52 +0000

Television networks are going to extreme lengths to land an interview with the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, Pippa Middleton.

Middleton splashed onto the international scene in April 2011 when she served as the maid of honor to her sister, Kate, when she wed Prince William. Since then, she has been the subject of significant press attention for her style, love life, social life, and more.

Middleton, who works for her parents’ business as the blog editor of a party planning website, was named one of Barbara Walters’ ‘Most Fascinating’ people of 2011. She also sealed a book deal worth more than $500,000 to author a book about party planning. With a big book deal comes a big network television interview.

U.S. media heavyweights, including Walters and Oprah Winfrey, have reportedly offered six-figure sums to land Middleton’s first big interview. Oprah reportedly told her staff to “pull out all the stops.” NBC would like Today’s front man, Matt Lauer, to interview Middleton. Lauer covered the Royal Wedding live from London for NBC. He also interviewed Price William and Prince Harry in 2007 on the 10th anniversary of their mother’s death.

The networks have also reportedly offered Middleton the opportunity to donate the large cash sum to charity, so it won’t appear as though she is “cashing in” on such a large sum of money. According to the Sunday Mirror, deals as big as $450,000 have been offered.

(Source: HuffingtonPost.com)

Sen. David Vitter Questioned About Hookers, Cheating, Newt Gingrich

Ross — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:54:02 +0000

During an awkward exchange on CNN’s Early Start, Ashleigh Banfield grilled Louisiana Senator David Vitter over his prostitution scandal, and compared his affairs to those of Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich. “I want you to weigh in on Newt Gingrich and what it’s like for a politician having serious baggage trying to be elected,” she asked. “The good news is in America, it’s not up to CNN, it’s up to the American people and up to voters,” Vitter hit back, comparing Banfield to John King.

Banfield acknowledged she knew it was “awkward” for her to even ask him the question, which a clearly gobsmacked Vitter evidently did not see coming.

“That’s going to be the case in this presidential election,” Vitter continued. “I think the voters are going to look carefully at all sorts of issues — but my guess is what concerns them now is this horrible, horrible economy and their future and their struggles around the kitchen table.”

“Well, I appreciate that you say it’s not up to CNN,” Banfield countered. “But I like to say we’re the messenger here, and one of the messages that you gave was this quotation about your incident and you said this was a ‘very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible.’ And that’s why I bring it to you, not so that CNN can dictate how voters will vote but so that we can take your message, including that one, which was kind of a embarrassing thing to admit to as Newt Gingrich has had to admit to some very embarrassing things and have voters take those messages.”

“Right, Ashleigh, sure,” Vitter responded.

“What I’m asking you is, can you compare the difficulties that you struggled with to a what Newt Gingrich is struggling with?” Banfield pressed.

“No, I can’t,” Vitter replied.

(Source: CNN and Mediaite.com)

Gayle King Denies Oprah is Godmother to Beyonce’s Baby

Ross — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:23:33 +0000

“CBS This Morning” co-anchor Gayle King, who holds the title of Duchess of Oprahlandia, was able to stop a story in its tracks this morning. King denied the chatter that Oprah Winfrey is the godmother of Beyonce and Jay-Z’s daughter, Blue Ivy.

“It’s absolutely not true that she’s the godmother,” King said on this morning’s show. “She’s friends with them, of course, and likes them both very much. She’s working on sending them a baby gift. She hasn’t even had time to send a baby gift because she’s been away.”

(Source: MediaBistro.com/TVNewser)

Sherri Shepherd Says People Confuse Her With Star Jones

Ross — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:16:07 +0000

Sherri Shepherd spoke out about a major faux paus that people make: confusing the identities of black women. She said that she gets confused with Star Jones.

Jones, of course, was a co-host on “The View” before Shepherd’s time. She exited the show in 2006, and has publicly feuded with Barbara Walters and sparred with Joy Behar.

Speaking to Wendy Williams on Friday, Shepherd recalled one occasion where she walked into a restaurant in Harlem and the DJ seemed to recognize her. She said he was excited at her appearance and began introducing the celebrity as “articulate,” “intelligent,” and “analytical” — only to announce, “Star Jones is in the house!”

She was also with Yvette Nicole Brown when someone asked Brown what working on “The Help” was like. The problem was that Brown, who stars in the NBC comedy “Community,” was not in the movie. Shepherd said Brown reacted graciously, but said, “Everyone confuses all of us.”

Luckily, Shepherd and Jones can discuss all of this when Jones appears on “The View” in February.

(Source: HuffingtonPost.com)

Ed Schultz to Join Democrats on Retreat About Election Strategy

Ross — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:43:30 +0000

Ed Schultz is hanging with the House of Representatives.

The MSNBC host will be joining House Democrats on a retreat in Cambridge, Maryland on Wednesday, according to the Roll Call. The focus of the retreat, which has the theme “Reignite the American Dream,” will be honing the group’s message about jobs and the economy going into the 2012 election.

Schultz will speak on a panel about Minority Whip Steny Hoyer’s “Make it in America” plan. The retreat’s other discussions will largely focus on core policy issues, and also feature Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. speaking on the “History of the Democratic Party: the Struggle for Rights.”

In November, Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia asked Schultz to speak at a Democratic event in January to “motivate the Congressional progressives.”

(Source: RollCall.com)