LL Cool J slams Palin's show - FOX bitchslaps LL

Who doesn’t love a celebrity media smackdown (it’s like a family feud only with pretty, rich people)?  Not that FOX News , LL Cool J or Toby Keith are family “per se”, but both LL and Keith have tasted of the bitter fruit that is known as a FOX News  interview (both done years ago) and, as the saying goes, their FOX chickens have come home to roost.

At the center of this debacle is none other than Sarah Palin whose FOX special Real American Stories recounts the life struggle and successes of Americans as a source of inspiration.  On its website, the show is described as follows:

“What do we share as Americans? A unique history. A love of freedom. An understanding that together we can make a difference. A chance to make our dreams reality.  This is a place where people – from all walks of life – can share their personal stories, and talk about what makes this country great.  Join us as we celebrate the American Spirit. We’d love to hear from you. Get Involved. Share Your Story.”

Factor in Sarah Palin as host and you see where this is going (and if not, where have you been for the past 18 months?!!).  Wherever Sarah goes, controversy follows.

Toby Keith rocks out on stage - FOX ignores his disgruntled statements (will air his old interview in promo)

To promote her show, FOX News pulled old interview clips of celebrities who have been interviewed by FOX at one time or another to underscore the “celebrity” factor that the show will have.  Two of those celebrity clips include interviews featuring rapper LL Cool J and country singer Toby Keith.  Let’s just say that neither LL nor Keith appreciated being associated with the new FOX News/Sarah Palin special.  Both men responded to the promo with vitriol and public hissing:

Said Toby’s spokesperson in a statement: “We were never contacted… I have no idea what interview it’s taken from.  They’re promoting this like it’s a brand new interview!”

Like a true rapper, LL Cool J took to Twitter to express his anger (how far hip hop has come from the days of drive-by shootings):  “Fox lifted an old interview I gave in 2008 to someone else & are misrepresenting to the public in order to promote Sarah Palins Show. WOW!”

I’ll tell you the bigger “WOW!”, the fact that LL Cool J and Toby Keith ever gave FOX News an interview to begin with.  Isn’t that when your management, representatives, Jesus, the family pet… somebody supposed to step in and say “Don’t do this interview — you’ll regret it forever!”?

Despite Toby’s dismay and clear disapproval, FOX plans on running the promo featuring Toby’s old interview any (a clear “screw you” to the country singer).  With LL, however, they are taking an even spicier stance.  They have relented and agreed to pull LL Cool J’s old interview from the promo clips – but not before handing the east-coast rapper a bitchslap heard in ‘hoods around the world.  In an interview with TVNewser, a FOX rep released the following comment:

“”Real American Stories features uplifting tales about overcoming adversity and we believe Mr. Smith’s interview fit that criteria.   “However, as it appears that Mr. Smith does not want to be associated with a program that could serve as an inspiration to others, we are cutting his interview from the special and wish him the best with his fledgling acting career.”

Ouch.  I understand there are hurt feelings on both sides, but attacking a man’s acting skills is cause for a beatdown in Hollywood.  If that same insult was handed down under different circumstances, someone would’ve gotten shot.  FOX is gangsta and bitter – a lethal combination.

The comment regarding LL’s “fledgling acting career” is, of course, baseless.  One look at LL’s extensive IMDB list of acting credits and it becomes instantly apparent the man has had a very successful acting career (especially considering he crossed over from hip hop long before hip hop became mainstream – making crossing-over to acting easy for rappers to do).  As a matter of fact,  LL has worked non-stop in popular movies and tv shows since 1986 (10 years BEFORE FOX News sprang forth from their alien pod).  Let’s be honest (not one of FOX’s strong points but stick with me), if FOX didn’t think LL had value and respectable credentials as an actor, why would they include him in their promo to begin with (I doubt tea-party members are dying to see an interview with a rapper).  Ironically, FOX’s skewing of the facts and bitterness in their response to LL Cool J is the exact reason why these celebrities want nothing to do with them.  How’s that fledgling conservative news business coming FOX?

My message to LL Cool J and Keith (though coming from a place of love) is also swathed in a bitchslap:  You did an interview with FOX News?  What were you thinking? Lay down with dogs, wake up with fleas.

RECAP:  After airing an intentionally misleading promo featuring a country singer and a rapper, FOX News (barely apologetic after both celebs protested)  ignored the country singer and bitchslapped the rapper while mocking said rapper’s acting skills…

Now that’s a real American story!

Robin Williams doing... Robin Williams

Promoting his new HBO comedy show “Weapons of Self-Destruction”, comedian and Academy Award winning actor Robin Williams brings his sole brand of insanity to Jon Stewart and The Daily Show.

He’s as wired as ever and loaded with new material.  First up:  Sarah Palin (an easy target, but can we ever get tired of Palin-jokes? Okay, maybe we can).  Williams is aging very nicely (still hairy, but now practically all-white hair).

The reason I bothered to tune into this interview was (1) Williams has had a tough time this past year (rehab, getting a new heart, his divorce) and I was curious to see how these life changes would cause the entertainer to evolve his routine and (2) I had to see how Stewart would handle Williams who (though he’s been on the show before) never ceases to shock.

He’s the same old Williams, thankfully, just with a new heart.  But even with a new heart and reaching his later years, he has more energy than people half his age and that’s pretty cool to watch.  Also cool to watch (though many may disagree) is Robin Williams discussing his life-changes (though barely touching on things with the limited time).

Williams "self-destructs" on HBO

Williams hasn’t lost his edge or enthusiasm.  We’ll have to wait and see (based on how his new HBO comedy special)  if that’s a good thing.

My roommate just burst my Robin Williams bubble with the following logic:  “the reason Robin Williams is no longer relevant as a comedian is because he is completely predictable and he has a tendancy to do topical humor about world events that really don’t effect him (he can joke about Sarah Palin but you get the feeling he’s not really effected by her either way)”

I’d love to hear other thoughts on this.

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Joy Behar receiving an "Excellence in Media" award.

It was every bit as fun as it looked!  Neal B. and crew braved monsoon-like weather in New York to cover one of the most respected awards ceremonies in entertainment:  The 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards (@glaad).

The glam-glam celebs were out in full force on the red carpet:  Joy Behar (@JoyVBehar) explains what she feels the Republican party can learn from the people who are nominated at GLAAD, Cynthia Nixon shares her personal fight for marriage equality, Michael Patrick King (writer, producer of Sex and the City plot (sort of), Nigel Barker (@BeautyEquation) who explains how to exude beauty and more.

Special honorees of the evening included Joy Behar who received a special award for excellence in media for speaking out about gay rights issues as co-host on The View while Cynthia Nixon was honored for her passionate fight for marriage equality.

Watch as Neal B. hits the carpet and talks to celebs about why the GLAAD Awards is so special for them.    More individual interview quick-clips (and a list of the evening’s winners)  here.

Congratulations to the nominees and the winners!

Michael Patrick King and his leading ladies (Parker-Cattrall-Davis-Nixon)

Michael Patrick King (writer, producer and director of Sex and the City) had fun with Neal B. and ArtofTalk.tv on the red carpet at the 21st GLAAD Media Awards teasing us about a much-speculated possible plot point in the upcoming Sex and the City 2 (due to be released May 28th). Is there a gay wedding in the next film? If so, who’s the happy couple? King answers our questions and still leaves us wanting more (like any great writer would).

And don’t even think about entertaining the notion of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Amanda being played by anyone other than the original divas (Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon). Mr. King is not having any of that (not even hypothetically):

“There’s no one else to play these women!”

Got that? Good. And don’t you forget it!

Watch the trailer for the much-anticipated film after King’s interview.

Cynthia Nixon and fiance Christine Marinoni

Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City) is deeply committed to the fight for marriage equality.  Using the power of her passion and celebrity to galvanize an army of people who are just as committed to overturning laws that prohibit gay marriage, Nixon is not only making waves by demanding more of state senators in representing the gay community, she’s also reaching out to and educating an entirely new generation of passionate protesters.

Looking stunning on the red carpet at the 21st GLAAD Media Awards, Nixon took a few moments to speak with Neal B. and ArtofTalk.TV about Fight Back New York (an organization dedicated to removing from office senators who voted against marriage equality) and her experience attending the National Equality March with her family and friends.

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Cast of Hair

The cast of Broadway’s Tony award winning hit musical Hair (@hairtribe) walked the red carpet at this year’s GLAAD Media Awards (@GLAAD) bursting with the same magnetic enthusiasm that they bring to the theater stage every night.  They’re young, talented, beautiful and have jobs most people would kill for.  But another reason for their excitement was that they were at the awards to not only show their support for the cause, but to also receive a Special Recognition Award for raising visibility for marriage equality.

The cast in attendance at the prestigious event include Gavin Creel, Allison Case, John Moauro, Brandon Pearson, Chasten Harmon, Tommar Wilson, Jackie Burns and Ato Blankson-Wood.  The group took a minute to share with ArtofTalk.tv (@artoftalk) their excitement regarding their big move to London to produce Hair UK from our friends across the pond.

If the production there is going to be anything like it is here, then the Brits are in for a major treat.  Maybe an Olivier Award (prestigious British theatrical award) is in their future too.

Barker and Tyra

Nigel Barker (the dashingly handsome judge on America’s Next Top Model) chatted with ArtofTalk.TV on the red carpet at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards about his idea of what it truly takes to be beautiful.

Working in the fashion industry for over 20 years and seeing his share of beautiful people all over the world, Barker knows better than anyone how to embody and exude beauty (so take notes!).  He’s in the business of beauty.  Barker recently authored a book on beauty, Beauty Equation (@BeautyEquation), due to be released September 2010.

More photos of Barker and expressions of beauty after the video.

Nigel Barker soaking up beauty with models on the red carpet

Barker and his own brand of beauty as a young model.

Barker with wife Cristen and their two children Jack and Jasmine emanating beauty on the red carpet.

Ziggy Marley and friend

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Ziggy Marley (son of the legendary Bob Marley).  Surely he’s been busy as ever creating music, but he’s been out of the spotlight lately.

Elizabeth Mitchell

Marley visits The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to perform his single I Love You Too (featuring Elizabeth Mitchell).  Marley never fails to deliver good music and an equally engaging performance.  His appearance on The Tonight Show is no exception.

We love you too Ziggy!

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Jessica Simpson - Mayer's nepalm no longer

Jessica Simpson dropped in on The View to discuss her new VH1 tv special The Price of Beauty (where she travels around the world to discover and define beauty) and to address her critics who have berated her for gaining weight over the past year (something that she was clearly hurt by).  The good news is that she seems to have made peace with herself (refusing to shrink to a size “hollywood zero”, shrugging off critics and still enjoying her fried foods in moderation).

Where Simpson also scores points here is on her candor regarding ex-boyfriend John Mayer who recently ran off at the mouth about Simpson and his other ex-lover Jennifer Aniston.  While his comments about Aniston were less than flattering (and even harsh), Mayer calls sex with Simpson addictive.  Barbara Walters and crew are of the consensus that being called sexual napalm and wanting to be sniffed like cocaine by a man is a flattering thing — they still, however, refuse to let him off the hook (this is The View, after all).

Simpson’s best line of the segment was regarding John Mayer comment about Simpson wherein he compared having sex with her to “sexual napalm”:

“Oh, he’ll never have this napalm again?”

Okay then.

This segment with Simpson does exactly what a talk show appearance is supposed to do:  it reveals a bit about the guest and discusses whatever they are promoting in a way that titillates us into wanting to invest in their latest project.  Her tv show looks surprisingly good and she is clearly passionate about it.  Watching Jessica Simpson come into her own as a woman, take on douchebag former lovers and redefine her beauty on her own terms makes you want to root for this Texas girl all the way.

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