The Berry Gordy Character in ‘Dreamgirls’ Is Not Berry GordyDreamWorks and Paramount took out a full-page ad in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter to say that Jamie Foxx’s character in Dreamgirls isn’t based on Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. Lindsay Lohan skipped out on “father figure” Robert Altman’s memorial service. Jeffrey Chodorow thinks Frank Bruni’s smackdown of his Kobe Club is personal, and he took out a full-page ad in the Times to say so. Rapper Common bad-mouthed the Duke lacrosse team; now he’s performing at the university. Vogue’s André Leon Tally went on a shopping spree with
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Donald Trump Has ‘Jealous Enemies’Donald Trump claims that “jealous enemies” are spreading rumors that contractors working on his Atlantic City properties haven’t been paid for their work. After much deliberation, Daniel Boulud has decided to name his forthcoming Upper West Side bistro “Bar Boulud.” Jade Jagger had some serious air rage on a flight from London. Paramount head Brad Grey allegedly said that the reason Dreamgirls wasn’t nominated for a Best Picture Oscar is that “everyone hates David [Geffen].” Jim McGreevey’s wife is planning a tell-all.
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Tom and Katie, Together AgainTom, Katie, J-Lo, and Marc double-dated at Prince’s Golden Globes after-party. And Drew Barrymore and Bruce Willis hooked up at the same party. Diddy tried to pick up Sienna Miller at the CAA after-party, but he couldn’t get in. Cameron Diaz blew up at Jessica Biel for chatting up former boyfriend Justin Timberlake. (Although the Daily News claims their encounter was a bit more jovial.)
in other news
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Chicken WingWe’re loath to get between any female and her fridge, but the strong black woman in us is a little concerned by this week’s headlines. First there was restaurateur B. Smith on NPR defending her job as the new, potentially Aunt Jemima–ish, face of Betty Crocker’s corn bread. Then — more NPR! — came a piece on the mysterious disappearance of fried-chicken- loving Beyoncé’s backside in Dreamgirls. Finally, today we came across a video clip on Vanity Fair’s Website of Tyra Banks’s photo shoot for the February issue — in which the former supermodel manages to keep her appetite under control for three whole minutes before informing the camera she’s off to eat some wings, her booty be damned.
And just in time for Martin Luther King Day!
B. Smith Becomes the Face of Betty Crocker Cornbread [NPR]
What’s Missing in ‘Dreamgirls’ [NPR]
America’s Next Top Mogul [VF]
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Now It’s Condi’s Turn to CryKatie Couric may have made Condoleezza Rice cry during an interview, and a tape of it may exist. Bob Dylan is suing the producers of Factory Girl for defamation over their portrayal of his relationship with Edie Sedgwick. John Mayer and Jessica Simpson might be dating after all — at least according to a spy who saw them making out at a New Year’s Eve party. Even Harvard alums aren’t immune to high-profile, high-cost divorces. In a shocker, Donald Trump was named “Most Annoying Money Personality” by AOL users. A former model is suing real-estate honcho William Haines for sexual harassment, despite his best efforts to quash the suit. Billy Condon made an embarrassing faux pas in his bid to garner support for a Best Director Oscar for Dreamgirls. Governor Eliot Spitzer watched the ball drop from his new home — the Executive Mansion in Albany. Access Hollywood host Billy Bush is looking for a new job, and it probably won’t be at NBC. MTV retread Kristin Cavallari has a new boyfriend, and her old boyfriend is jealous. Former trashy talk-show host Richard Bey will play a sanitation worker in his Off Broadway debut. Liz Smith has some New Year’s resolutions for 2006’s leading ladies: Lindsay, stay out of harm’s way; Britney, keep your panties on; Paris, get off the red carpet.
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Donald and Graydon: Hair Fight!“Without Si Newhouse,” Spy punching bag Donald Trump says, “Graydon Carter would be just another overweight editor with bad hair.” Eliot Spitzer will likely choose one of four people to replace embattled State Comptroller Alan Hevesi: a Latino, a woman, a banker, or a guy who donated a kidney to his daughter. Both Britney Spears’s family and the L.A. Department of Children and Family Services are disturbed by her recent pantyless partying. Did Augusten Burroughs pull a James Frey? The crazy family depicted in Running With Scissors says so. John Mayer made a script suggestion to Kiefer Sutherland regarding 24. Sex blogger Jessica Cutler pulls out of a panel on blogger book deals because she is currently being sued. Pam Anderson and Kid Rock are hosting rival New Year’s Eve parties in Las Vegas. NBC honcho Jeff Zucker and the L.A. Times disagree on whether he’s about to promote someone. A model confused Charles Barkley with Gnarls Barkley. Wyclef Jean visited Haiti again, wants to open a resort there. Terrence Howard is one of the few black guys who support Michael Richards. East Hampton hotspot Star Room is on sale for $4.25 million. “Page Six” was name-checked on Law & Order. Da-dum. Liza Minnelli recently attended a perverted rock musical. Liz Smith really likes Dreamgirls. Cindy Adams really likes Barack Obama.