Wow, those people at Fox sure know how to market a movie. First, Homer Simpson opened American Idol back in May to tease the pic. Now he introduced The Tonight Show this evening before the film’s July 27th release — and the toon did an NBC-bashing, GE-mugging monologue to boot. In the animated intro, Homer quipped that NBC stands for “Never Been Crappier”. Homer also said that “GE makes a lot of other bad things. According to my daughter Lisa, GE fills the air with more dangerous hydrocarbon emissions than Rosie O’Donnell”. After a few jokes, the toon was led out by security guards while a Simpsonized Leno watched. Later, the real Jay took over the show and said, “I want to thank Homer Simpson for filling in. We had Lindsay Lohan but turns out she was already booked.” Then Rob Schneider came out as Lindsay Lohan, with blond wig and ankle bracelet, and stayed in character as Leno’s first guest.
Homer Beats Up NBC/GE On Tonight Show
Are Bancrofts Leaning ‘No’ To Rupe Deal?
When news warrants, I’ve been trying to file brief updates on the bumpy road that the Murdoch-Dow Jones deal is traveling. Here’s the latest: One Bancroft family member who is a member of the Dow Jones board and … Read More »
Michael Moore About To Issue ‘Sicko’ Card On Pic’s Website To Scare Health Insurers
One day, when he’s sick of making documentaries, Sicko filmmaker Michael Moore should start a powerhouse marketing company. Because no one does it better than he does. He’s picked public fights with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, accused the … Read More »
UPDATED: Patrick Goldstein Responds To LA Times’ Killing Of His Column For Today
I’ve just been emailed the column that Los Angeles Times Hollywood writer Patrick Goldstein wrote for today. But it didn’t run. The paper killed it — actually John Montorio, newly promoted from associate editor to managing editor for features, axed it — then offered the lame excuse that Goldstein was on assignment. … Read More »
Bless Hollywood, For They Have Sinned
A Christian ministry started by a former associate producer of Headliners and Legends with Matt Lauer is calling for people to pray for celebrities instead of boycotting their movies.
According to the … Read More »
Bye-Bye Laguna Beach… MTV Will Sucker-Punch Newport Harbor Starting Aug. 15

Now that MTV has ruined Laguna Beach, it’s moving up the coast to Newport Harbor for its 4th season of the rich teen reality show called, appropriately, Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County. ”New cast, new beach, new drama,” is the execrable title of the series deputing August … Read More »
Spielberg Tells Grey He’s “Very Happy”
A few weeks ago, when Brad Grey visited Steven Spielberg in Connecticut where Indiana Jones 4 was shooting on location, the DreamWorks partner put the Paramount boss’s mind at ease. “Steven said to Brad that he intended to be in business with him a long time,” a source … Read More »
New Showbiz Blog Doesn’t Bash Women
A new website HerHollywood aims to provide daily entertainment industry news about women working and aspiring to work in the television and film industry. It was conceived and is published daily by a woman who worked in the … Read More »
From Jerry Zucker: A Big Actor’s Problem
Speaking of hilarious videos, a top entertainment lawyer just sent me this one on Jerry Zucker’s online comedy network and incubator website called NationalBanana.com. It stars Cuba Gooding Jr., who should win another Oscar.
YouTube Spoof: Harry Potter In The Hood
This has catchy rap music video and better than average production values. From omovies.com (who did Paris In Jail). Let’s hope the Warner Bros lawyers laugh.
First Texas, Then… The Real Price Of Film Production Incentives In Some States
The MPAA has a new crisis on its hands that’s potentially as serious as piracy: censorship by states doling out film production incentives. A just created Moving Image Industry Incentive Program by the state of Texas places content conditions on productions it … Read More »
Calling Abigail Breslin & Dakota Fanning…
I remember when directors and writers only consulted kids about screenplays. (That’s how John Hughes birthed Home Alone). Now the rug rats are writing the scripts themselves. The UCLA Armand Hammer Museum has started a free “Screenwriting Camp” for kids ages 10-14 … Read More »
Cheney, Want Cheese With That Whine?
What an incurable case of myopia. On Meet the Press this morning, Dick Cheney’s official biographer had the nerve to rap Jay Leno for still making jokes about the vice president’s 2006 hunting accident. Stephen Hayes of the … Read More »
FUNNY MEN NO. 1! ‘Chuck & Larry’ Beat Musical ‘Hairspray’ And Magical ‘Harry’
SUNDAY AM: A PG-13 spoof about two firefighters posing as gay lovers so they can be friends with benefits tickled U.S. funny bones on Date Night as Universal’s I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry beat … Read More »
Wkd Predictions For Sandler vs Travolta

What an intense weekend with a comedy and a musical going head to head. (And thankfully we’re back to the usual Friday through Sunday release schedule again.) The critics may hate I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry (massive negative … Read More »
Tracking: Simpsons $50M, Bourne $40M

The Simpsons Movie tracking for its July 27th release is looking very strong, with estimates coming in to me of a $50+ opening weekend. I don’t see a single misstep by Fox when it comes to marketing … Read More »
DHD Update: Time Warner Cable Sucks
My internet and cable are down yet again so posting will occur today but very slowly since I’m on dial-up. Another feeble excuse from incompetent Time Warner Cable which now wants to handle my phone service, too?
No effing way.
What Harvey Really Thinks Of ‘Entourage’
Just when you think these Hollywood moguls have a sense of humor about their media portrayals, you find out they don’t. There’s been some Internet buzz that Harvey Weinstein is amused by his doppelganger portrayal on HBO’s Entourage. (Watch a video clip here.) I can tell you that’s … Read More »
Let’s File This Under Frivolous Lawsuits?
UPDATE: I’m reading the court filing now…
Radaronline.com is reporting that Pulitzer prizewinning Los Angeles Times journalist Chuck Philips and the newspaper have been hit with a $10 million defamation lawsuit by film producer Julius Nasso (Narc, Under … Read More »

