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Blogs RSS  List Blogs entries from 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 January February March April May June July August September October November December The Billy Bush Show for March 27, 2009 March 27, 2009 It's jam packed tonight... Up first.. they were on GMA this morning... and we HAD TO get the McCracken family on the show tonight. There little girl, Morgan, was hit by a line drive baseball on St Patrick's day. Thinking it was just a bump on the head, the family kept watch, and Morgan seemed fine. 2 days later (when Natasha Richardson died) Morgan complained of a headache.. All the exposure of Natasha Richardson made the family nervous and they rushed Morgan to the hospital where they discovered she had the same injury that eventually killed Natasha. Luckily, Morgan is fine today- and Billy talks with her dad about it tonight... Matt Lauer had an accident last week... Shoulder surgery Monday, back at work on Thursday and on the BBS tonight.. How is he recovering? What pain meds are they giving him? Holly Madison was injured and taken to the Dr yesterday... She joins us on the show to update her injury status.. and then it gets personal... Bruno and Len are always commenting about her ummm... assetts... and we go there.. or, I go there but Billy put me up to it... Before and after Holly.. We find out how much she has "changed" since HS. AND.. what would a Friday night party be without the Osbournes... Sharon and Ozzy are in studio with us.. They've got a new show coming out on Tues... ITS nuts!!!! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 26, 2009 March 26, 2009 Tonight on the BBS... David Cook joins Billy to discuss his latest blog on invasive fans... Apparently they are getting too close for comfort. He also addresses the claims that contestants on AI lip sync to the group performances.... Have you seen the pictures of Rihanna's new gun tattoos... Well, rather than speculate if they are real or not.. we go straight to the source.. Bang Bang, the tattoo artist who tatted RiRi up joins the show tonight... What do the guns mean? Why did she want to get them... We have the latest on Shawn Johnson and her stalker. Tony Potts, from Access Hollywood was down at the courthouse today. He takes us through step by step what went down... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 25, 2009 March 25, 2009 Tonight on the BBS... Denise Richards was booted off of DWTS last night.. so in typical Bushy style.. we talk to Denise.. Is there a hot women conspiracy brewing.. How in the world is Steve Woz still on the show?????? Hint- the women voters are jealous... (thats my 2 cents anyway) Plus she talks about her partner Max and how he "trained" her.. was it too rought Not to be outdone.. Chuck Wicks and girlfriend Julianne Hough check in with the BBS.. They were equally surprised that Denise was eliminated.. AND.. are there wedding bells in the future.. Chuck tells Billy....... Plus.. Our new name for Steve Woz followers- WOZNONS... Woz's Nation Of Nerds... heee heeee Moving on we've got Kelly Clarkson on her new album... why does everyone think shes into girls????? and her new single.. I do not hook up just dropped... who actually wrote the song? It's all on the BBS show tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 24, 2009 March 24, 2009 Tonight on the show Full DWTS coverage Ty Ritter from All -American Rejects The latest voted off of the Biggest loser Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 23, 2009 March 23, 2009 It's another big night on the Billy Bush Show Jamie Pressly joins us. She teaches Billy that women can be just as vulgar as stereotypical men... On that note Jason Segel, her co-star in I Love You, Man talks to us about the great cast in the movie.. including Incredible Hulk.. who just so happens to be joining us in studio tonight... He put a sleeper hold on Jason in the movies.. does he get anyone from our show... find out tonight... Melissa Rivers was NOT voted off Celebrity Apprentice last night.. Claudia Jordan was.. and the 2 of them did NOT get along... CAT FIGHT Melissa joins us AND Claudia sits down with us in studio Lastly- Matt Lauer fell off his bike.. really??? Jim Bell, Executive Producer of the Today Show gives us all the details of how it went down, Matt's surgery and when he will be returning back to work It's all coming up tonight... on the Billy Bush Show Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 20, 2009 March 20, 2009 Huge Show for you tonight! Jason Segel from the sure to be hit movie I Love You Man joins the BBS show tonight....Who he based his character off of.. will there be full frontal nudity... and are girls raunchier than guys... Keeping with the movie theme... Colin Hanks stars in the film the The Great Buck Howard alongside his dad, Tom Hanks, and John Malkovich. What was it like working with his dad? Who was tougher on him as a kid Tom or his mom Rita Wilson? And is John Malkovich as scary as he looks... Katy Perry kicks off the US leg of her tour tomorrow.. What can we expect from her.. More jumbo sized fruit? Less clothes.. she dishes tonight... We already know that Edie (played by Nicolette Sheridan) on Desperate Housewives meets her maker by crazy Dave on the show.. Neil McDonough who plays Dave is in studio with us.. Does he kill off anyone else this season.. Insider Info for you...., and Bill Paxton from Big Love checks in again to give us a sneak peak at Sunday's season finale... What you can expect on the show.. It's explosive!!!!!! Plus Obama OH NO.. take foot insert in mouth... and how to become an instant celebrity..advice from Billy Bush Monday sneak peak... Booted Celeb Apprentice will be in studio.. can you guess who he/she will be? Melissa Rivers will join us to talk about Apprentice as well Jamie Presley from the movie I Love You Man and My Name is Earl and a very large and very in charge... tough guy... Have a great weekend Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 19, 2009 March 19, 2009 Happy Thursday on the BBS... Tonight on the show... Nick Lachey joins us in studio to discuss his new reality show "Taking the Stage" that premiere's tonight on MTV.. Plus- how are things between he and Vanessa????? Dr. Drew Pinsky is in studio with us.. Lindsay???? What will it take to help this girl shape up? He also discusses Britney and her amazing transformation.. AND.. is Billy a narcissist??? He takes the quiz... find out tonight Steve Wozniak from DWTS joins us.. Billy gave him so great advice on how to boost his votes... has he followed it? Phew.. almost done.. Tommy Lee joins us too... What happened when a helicopter he was in got "pulled over" by LAPD? AND what about Pamela Anderson? Together? Not Together? Is he single? In love... He talks about all this tonight Plus we have the latest details on the sad story of Natasha Richardson... Make sure to tune in tonight... Tomorrow Sneak Peak... Katy Perry- She kicks off her US tour this weekend Bill Paxton- On what to expect Sun night on Big Love Neil McDonough on Desperate Housewives and whether or not he will kill Mike.... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 18, 2009 March 18, 2009 Tonight on the show... Bill Paxton from the HBO series Big Love joins us to talk about the ladies... How does he feel about polygamy and do men everywhere envy him.. or cringe when they think of 3 wives telling them what to do... Steve- O from DWTS joins us and gives us an injury update.. He was spared last night.. but for how long.. Billy tells him that he doesn't think Steve will make it to the finals.... Hope Dworaczyk is on the cover of Playboy this month with actor Seth Rogen... only she likes another funny man... Dane Cook.. We set them up tonight on the show.... Plus a preview of Friday's Celeb Mags.... Lindsay Lohan pleas with the paps for some privacy and Leann Rimes... Did she or didn't she? Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 17, 2009 March 17, 2009 Happy Irish Day! While Billy and I are not Irish... Billy chose to to dive into the festivities anyway and wore a kilt to work today... Just a little insider info that I wanted to pass along....pictures will be on the web shortly On the show tonight... DWTS host Tom Bergeron defends having Bachelor DUMPEE Melissa Rycroft on the show. Stating its not about an equal playing field... it's about entertainment... Boo!!!! Bob Barker checks in with us and tells us all about the offer he received when he was younger.... Bob Barker, the Porn Star... Gives new meaning to "Come on Down" :) And Mandy from the Biggest Loser (Billy's Favorite show) talks about her new body.. she has lost 90 lbs... has it revamped her and hubby's sex life? And for us ladies...she takes us through calorie allotment and exercise regimen Plus - Seth Rogen at the airport.... Best paparazzi question EVER And Billy, Julia Roberts, and Billy's dad... It's all on the show tonight ... Make sure to tune in Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 16, 2009 March 16, 2009 Happy St. Patty's Eve! Insider info.. Billy wears a kilt tomorrow morning on the Today Show.. Make sure you tune in to see that... But I digress.... Tonight on the show.. Steve Wozniak (????) He co-founded Apple Computers and is now dancing his way into your hearts on this season's DWTS. He's got a hairline fracture in his foot.. Is he out... Followthewoz.com It's no secret the Nicolette Sheridan's character Edie on Desperate Housewives is killed off before the season ends... Tonight on the show.. Neil McDonough who plays crazy Dave Williams is in studio. He dishes on her demise.. Is he the culprit and will there be anymore Wisteria Lane deaths? Tom Green heard "You're Fired" by Mr. Trump last night on Celebrity Apprentice. He is in studio with us tonight.. He was blamed for Dennis Rodman's absence at work due to a night out of drinking and debauchery...Plus who he CANT STAND on the cast.. and we go there... talking about his ex- Drew B Also on the show.. What the heck is going on with Lohan... and Billy gets called out by a viewer on national TV... Did he really run naked through campus at Colby College a la Old School style.. That story is tonight... Tomorrow sneak peak... Bob Barker and porno's... nuff said Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 13, 2009 March 13, 2009 It's Friday the 13th and the show tonight is anything but scary... Access Hollywood's Tony Potts joins us from the court house where all the Anna Nicole Smith drama is going down... Holly Madison from DWTS and The Girls Next Door joins us.. Who was a better lover- Hef or her recent ex Chriss Angel? Gilles Marini (DWTS) tells us all about his recent shoulder injury and the surprise he has in store for his mother when she arrives from France.. She doesn't know has on the show!!! Plus- Movie see it and skip its... Hulk Hogan goes old school on a lawyer... Our nightly celebrity report card.. Rank or Skank Monday sneak peak... The Woz from DWTS and the latest contestant to hear "You're Fired" by Donald Trump will be in studio with us... Make sure you tune in! Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 11, 2009 March 11, 2009 Tonight on the show... Mr. George Davis joins us tonight (who???) Tina Davis is the Chris Brown's manager and the woman that is said to have sparked the fight that erupted between Chris and Rihanna the night before the Grammy's. Her father joins us to defend Tina and Chris's relationship (as manager/talent) and he offers up his inside views on the whole situation. American Idol winner Taylor Hicks joins us in studio... His thoughts on 4 judges, the newest contestants, his solo career.. and my goodness does he look like George Clooney... Has he ever used it to his advantage with the ladies? Being single while on the road gets complicated and Taylor talks all about it. Tom Bergeron offers some insight to the pairing of Denise Richards and her partner Max... What would Karina do if there were anything inappropriate going on.. Russian Mob style... Plus Accesshollywood.com's Dish of Salt gives us a heads up on the changes you can expect to see on Idol tonight... And as we do every week - we preview the Celeb Mags and let you know which ones to buy and which ones to save your money on. Make sure to tune in tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 10, 2009 March 10, 2009 Tonight on the show... DWTS last night had over 23 million viewers (wow) special thanks to last minute addition Melissa Rycroft (the Bachelor reject who got dumped on national TV) Tony Dovolani her partner (who was supposed to be dancing with Access Hollywood's Nancy O'Dell) checks in with us on Melissa's progress. Plus... he weighs in on who is a better partner... DWTS host Tom Bergeron joins the show and weighs in on Melissa's dance experience (she took ballet as a child and was a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader) And- Really Tom? Melissa is a "Celebrity"? Really? Jewel who is also out due to injury lets Billy know what her plans are for the rest of the season including a performance on next weeks elimination show.. Will her hubby Ty be dancing to her music? And- Her replacement is playboy reality star Holly Madison.. she's wearing Jewel's dress. How many alterations did they have to make???? Scott Hamilton was just fired by Donald Trump.... Not a big fan of Dennis Rodman... he tells us why tonight.. it involves cross dressing.. hee hee Also- Billy's parenting dilemma and Lady Gaga, Britney's open mic oops, and fun with a wrong # Tomorrow sneak peek... Taylor Hicks - American Idol Season 5 winner is in studio with us... NOT KIDDING... he looks like George Clooney. Super Cute and sometimes uses that to his advantage when he is in the road... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 9, 2009 March 9, 2009 We are all about DWTS tonight on the Show... Nancy O'Dell checks in with us as she heads over to DWTS for the premiere tonight. She's out... so what does she think about her replacement? Plus she's seen some of the couples practicing..she dishes on what you are in store for tonight DWTS and SATC hottie Gilles Marini injured his meniscus a while back. He now has a pulled groin muscle. He checks in with Billy to update his status. Steve - O is the dark horse in the competition (according to Billy) according to Nancy... Not so much. Regardless Steve-O tells Billy how he has been progressing and Belinda Carlisle is with us again.. Nancy saw her rehearsal too.. will Belinda be pulling out all the stops tonight? Or is she going conservative... Plus- Russell Brand's "Booky Wook" is in stores tomorrow.. Did his dad really get him a prostitute from Hong Kong for his 16th Birthday? Outrageous! And Billy was at rehearsal with Lil Kim and Derek Hough on Friday afternoon.. Find out how she thinks Derek H would fare in prison... It's lots of giggles and lots of dancing tonight on the BBS.. Make sure to tune in Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 6, 2009 March 6, 2009 YAY Friday! Tonight on the show: Billy Kanoodles with the Kardashians.. We have rapid fire rounds with the 3 lovely ladies. First Kim and when her and Reggie Bush plan on marrying. Then Khloe joins us to discuss her recent break up with Minnesota Timberwolves player Rashad McCant. Did she really catch him cheating by looking at his Facebook account? Plus what was prison like (the whole 3 hours that she was there) And Kourtney checks in with us too. She's recently single.. what guy does she have her eyes on now? Is she dating? and are her sisters jealous that out of the three of them, she is the only size zero... Russell Brand is on the show tonight. He is insane! He received death threats after hosting the MTV VMA's. He is a sex addict. He went to rehab for it and then was awarded Britain's "Shagger or the Year" award for next 3 consecutive years. While we interview him.. he tries to pick up the AP reporter assigned to cover him. Hilarious! Plus.. Sharon Osbourne sounds off on the Chris/Rihanna situation. She was once victim to domestic violence by the hands of Rocker Ozzy.. She reasons why Rihanna goes back And we talk to Bill Zwecker of the Chicago Sun Times who knows people inside the CB camp... Has Chris agreed to pay Rihanna 10 million dollars if he even so much as grabs her arm again? What the CB camp is calling Chris's attempt to make a comeback more favorable with the public... he has great information... Make sure you tune in Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 5, 2009 March 5, 2009 Breaking News! Not one but 2 contestants are out on DWTS due to injury.. You will hear from one of them on the show tonight.. Crazy! Katy Perry joins us tonight. She is on tour in Europe and calls in from Germany. Her new song, Thinking of You, shows a more personal side of Katy and is written about her and her love life. Plus she addresses the rumor that she is dating Benji Madden! Vanna White pops in on us. Wheel of Fortune has crossed a milestone. 5000 episodes... Plus Vanna is in the Guinness Book of World Records.. Find out why. And- did her and Pat Sajack ever... you know... Access Hollywood UK correspondent is on site at the major Michael Jackson presser in London... He reveals some details as to what to expect from Jacko and were the 1000's of people shown in attendance there for the gloved wonder or was there something else going on? Make sure to tune in tonight! Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 4, 2009 March 4, 2009 Happy Wednesday! Its all about The Bachelor tonight on the Billy Bush Show... Host Chris Harrison is in studio with Billy. Was the show scripted? What happened behind the scenes? What is the scandalous couple up to now? Trista Sutter a great friend of the Billy Bush Show joins us again and we have her reaction to last night's episode. Plus, what is it like to be the only contestant that actually weathered the storm together? AND yay- Billy had an exclusive interview with U2's Bono and Edge. They talk about their new album (dropped yesterday) and how they have succeeded in staying relevant all of these years Plus we preview all of the celebrity rag mag's and tell you which ones are worth your dollar this week... Tomorrow sneak peak... The Kardashians!!!!! Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 3, 2009 March 3, 2009 Tonight on the Billy Bush Show 17 million people tuned in to the Bachelor last night for the final rose ceremony and the 6 weeks later episode where fans were met with a shocking revelation... Jason picked the wrong girl and broke up with his "Fiancé" on national TV (Bummer). We have the latest news on how it all went down, with inside Access from one of Access Hollywood's Reality Experts... Trista Sutter.. The First Bachelorette is friendly with the broken hearted Melissa. We talk to her and find out how Melissa is doing and how she REALLY found out about the impending break-up.... Shady It's Britney B*%$. She's back and stronger than ever. Her Circus Tour Kicks off tonight in New Orleans and we are right there with her. Her manager Larry Rudolph is in NOLA and he spills on what to expect in the show, what's Brit Brit's state of mind and where are her kiddies. PLUS- what's ex K-Fed doing during all of this.. he tells us tonight Erick McCormack (Will from Will and Grace) joins us tonight. What's it like to play a straight man on TV? (Hysterical) He has a new project on TNT and its very exciting Plus the latest Biggest Loser contestant Dane checks in with us.. Did he cheat in a marathon? Why did he get a lift for 3 miles in a car to the finish line.. And now that he has lost 142 lbs.. what's the bedroom action like with his wife??? Only Billy can ask these questions... Make sure to tune in tonight! Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for March 2, 2009 March 2, 2009 Tonight on the Billy Bush Show A new era in late night TV has begun as Jimmy Fallon takes over for Conan O'Brien tonight on NBC. We talk to Jimmy about what to expect, who his first guests are (VERY TOUGH guests to interview) and how he's feeling hours before launching the show Access Hollywood's Maria Menounos traveled around the country with the Jonas Brothers this weekend as they popped (unannounced) into theaters everywhere to promote their new 3-D flick.... Get this- their plane has a "Playa Room" you'll hear all about it tonight. And- one of my Fav's Belinda Carlisle checks in with us. She's a cast member on DWTS.. what has she done to prepare? She posed naked at 40 for Playboy, 10 yrs later, will she be flashing a lot of skin? Plus her and plastic surgery.. Great views on it.. Pay attention ladies That's tonight on the show... Tomorrow Sneak Peak- Andrew Dice Clay- First contestant FIRED by The Donald Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 27, 2009 February 27, 2009 TGIF!!!! We are kicking off the weekend strong tonight... THE DONALD is in the house. The season premiere of Celebrity Apprentice is Sunday at 9 on NBC and Donald goes wild with us. He talks about the cast, Joan Rivers plastic surgery, American Idol, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, saving the NBC network, and even Tom Brady and Giselle's quickie wedding FUN Because we are kicking it Trump style.. We have Joan Rivers tonight too! Why is she crying in every promo we see of the show? Who does she LOATHE? And what surprise friends has she made Rob Morrow is with us too. He currently stars in CBS's NUMB3RS (if you have not seen this show, I encourage you to watch...its how I spend my Friday nights its that good... sigh) But that aside... he is in cahoots to start shooting a new show starring Hillary Duff. The name? Barely Legal... If you google it.. be careful what links you click on... Plus- Billy gets am email from a listener and does a favor for her... he calls her 86 yr old mom... PRICELESS Its all on the show tonight Monday sneak peak: Jimmy Fallon- Day 1 of his new show... THE PRESSURE Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 26, 2009 February 26, 2009 Tonight on the show... What's really going on behind the scenes at American Idol? Is there a cat fight brewing between Idol veteran Paula A and newbie Kara D or is it all much ado about nothing? Thank you Shakespeare. Billy has all the info as he talked to Kara.... Nancy O'Dell (Billy's Co-Host on Access Hollywood) is busy practicing for her debut on DWTS and we talk to her partner Tony Davolini about her progress. Plus he danced with Stacy Keibler in a past season.. whose legs are longer? and how did he find out Sex and the City fans.... Gilles Marini went FULL FRONTAL as Kim Catrall's neighbor in the blockbuster hit. He's Nancy's competion on the show... Did he use a body double? How awkward was it to get naked in front of everyone and did he have any extra help??? Plus.. major actor back in rehab for the 2nd time.. Billy saw this coming as he witnessed this man drunk karaoke-ing (is that a word) backstage at the Golden Globes in 2006... and Morgan Freeman is getting sued.. we have all the documents and break it down for you make sure to tune in tonight- oh and if you haven't done it already- make sure to add Billy as your friend on FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1419715297&ref=name Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 25, 2009 February 25, 2009 Greetings Earthlings! Tonight on the Billy Bush Show: We are getting you ready for the season premiere of DWTS with Judge Carrie Anne Inaba tonight. She talks about the dancers hooking up, and whether or not Billy should be cast for next season Jewel and hubby rodeo star Ty Murray join Billy tonight- They are facing off against one another and living in rather strange conditions... Their partners are living at their house with them Billy sat down yesterday with TI for his countdown show... but tonight you will hear just a snidbit of the singer's thoughts on Rihanna (whom he has a duet with) and her situation with Chris Brown... Not what you might think... Plus we preview all you celeb mags... GARBAGE this week... It's all on the show tonight.... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 24, 2009 February 24, 2009 Tonight on the BBS... Joan Rivers SLAMS Will Ferrell and Tommy Lee Jones. She also goes on to talk about all the leading ladies in Hollywood and who has decent plastic surgery and who should audition for the muppets... You do not want to be on this woman's bad side Seal is on the show- He starts his SOUL tour on 3/31. He defends wife Heidi Klum who was recently attacked by a designer claiming that the Victoria's Secret model was too heavy for the runway Serena Williams is on the show with us.. Shes the number 1 female tennis player in the world and was just beaten by big sis Venus on Friday.. Is there sibling rivalry AND- being that she is number 1, does she relate to A-Rod? How does she feel about steroids? Plus Billy goes at it hard with Biggest Loser Eliminee Shannon who asked to leave the show so her mom could stay... Oh and if you saw the Oscars, Will Smith messes up his lines and throws in a "and Boom Goes the Dynamite" if you dont know what hes referencing.. weve got it for you tonight. (Hysterical) Tomorrow Sneak Peak : Carrie Ann Inaba (from DWTS) plus many others Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 20, 2009 February 20, 2009 It's Friday!!!!! YAY! The Oscar's are this weekend and tonight on the show.. Hugh Jackman joins us. Is he nervous about hosting? Will there be singing? Dancing? Jazz hands? Plus- he normally plays drinking games while watching the Oscars.. will he have a drink (to calm the nerves) before stepping out into the spotlight? Bar Rafaeli is with us tonight.. She is SI's 2009 Swimsuit Edition Cover Girl (who happens to be dating Leo). Will she be walking on the Red Carpet with him at the Oscars? What will she be wearing? AND what does she do now that she has graced the cover... Barbara Walters talks with us all about her Oscar Special which airs an hour before the Oscars on Sunday. We talked to him last night.. But Conan calls in again tonight to say his final goodbyes to the Late Show and NY. And Sir David Furnish (You know, Elton's hubby) he checks in to tell us about Elton's post Oscar Party.. Who will the guest's be? Any divas? And a lightning round of what is Elton like (hysterical) Does he snore? Who would win in a fight? When they fight do they throw things?? Truly funny And finally we take you back through some of the best opening monologues from the Academy Awards and do a quick reminder of Who Should and Who will with our Awards Expert Dave Karger from entertainment weekly Monday Sneak Peak... Billy is on the red carpet on Sunday with all the celebs. You will hear all his interviews and how it all goes down on Monday night Have a happy and safe weekend Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 19, 2009 February 19, 2009 Tonight on the Billy Bush Show Hola! Conan O'Brien takes the stage for the last time in NY tomorrow night before his move to LA to take over Jay Leno's spot on the tonight show... Why is he coming to LA, TV shows can tape anywhere.. plus- how he is transitioning over, what the new version of the tonight show will look like.. and once in LA, how will this affect Conan (think white Porsche with pink racing stripes) It's funny all over BONUS!!! Billy snagged an exclusive interview with Bono and Edge from music icons Bono and Edge of U2. They talk about EVERYTHING- Family, Obama, music and if you wonder what their wives address them as when they are alone.. we get that answer too... Then we talk to a Jackass... Seriously- Steve-O of Jackass fame has joined Dancing with the Stars. He's on his way to the podiatrist... did he hurt himself dancing already? Plus- we play fact or fiction. Steve-O has been sober for 11 months.. there are lots of speculations about him- hes found Jesus, he thinks the world is going to end... We're going to address it all tonight Getting ready for the Oscars? Dave Karger from Entertainment Weekly (our Billy Bush Show Awards Expert) joins us for Who Should get it and Who Will get.... Make sure you tune in tonight! Tomorrow Sneak Peak... Its too big... i dont want to say! Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 18, 2009 February 18, 2009 Tonight on the show... Travis the Chimp has made headlines these past couple of days after he mauled a Connecticut woman. One man, Jeff Rossen of NBC, was able to get an interview with the chimps owner. We talk to Jeff about what he saw at the woman's house, what he found out about the chimp, were there warning signs? And most of all, how is the woman coping with the loss of her 18 yr old companion Now onto happy thoughts... Lilly Allen is in studio with us tonight.. She takes on Perez Hilton, the media, Katy Perry, and she also addresses the criticism that shes been getting due to some off color drug comments she made.. take a chill pill people! It was taken out of context... shes on fire with us tonight Barbara Walters is a guest tonight.. We are starting early with our Oscar coverage and Babs is the person we wanted first...Plus- what does she want her legacy to be? Journalist? Or Talk show host? And her thoughts on the octomom We also preview the celebrity rags for you.. In get it or shred it... It's all in their tonight! Make sure to tune in Tomorrow Sneak Peak Billy sits down with U2's Bono and the Edge WOO HOO Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Rockin' Out With U2 February 17, 2009 I recently interviewed Bono and The Edge... nicest, most humble guys in rock 'n' roll. Over 30 years together and not one rocker cliche applies -- nobody's ever quit, nobody's punched a photog (although it's documented Edge punched Bono right in the kisser!), no overdose... Bono and Edge's two sons are close friends and are making music together on Garage Band... Bono said, "If we get this U2 thing right, we might have a franchise!" Must be tough for those boys to play their beats for their dads, where the toughest critics also love you more than any men alive. Bono has sent President Obama a letter addressing him as O'bama... proud Irish. Haha. News for U2 Nation, Bono let slip they are planning a Fall Tour. Edge socked him (lightly) for it. The album "No Lines On the Horizon" is awesome. I've heard it all. Posted by Billy Bush at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 17, 2009 February 17, 2009 I hope everyone enjoyed the looonggggg weekend :) We have a big show for you tonight... First up- Lindsay Lohan (who has been looking painfully thin in recent photos) lashed back at the media insisting that she does eat and her weightloss is due to working very hard and stress... We go to the one person who can tell us whats going on in Lindsay's life... Her mom sets the record straight tonight... Sex and the City the sequel is a GO! Sarah Jessica Parker a Billy Bush Show favorite talks to Billy exclusively about the new deal, when production will start, when the movie will be released.. and of course what to expect Go Big or Go Home... The Donald is on the show tonight.. He put the moves on Access Hollywood Co-Host Nancy O'Dell... He shares that little gem with us... So naturally- we need Nancy's side of the story.. She comes in studio and recollects the Donald's womanizing ways Nick Cannon joins us tonight.. Mariah Carey, his wife, LOVES BILLY... so Billy gets to ask him anything he wants.. including- When are the babies coming? and finally- The recent voted off contestant of the Biggest Loser.. He has 4 children and Billy thinks it's time for him to stop procreating.. His advice on how to get that done... is on the show tonight Thanks and make sure to tune in... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 13, 2009 February 13, 2009 It's Friday the 13th on the Billy Bush Show.. but that is not going to put a damper on our evening because .. Tomorrow is Valentines Day Woo Hoo! First up - Howie Mandel, star of NBC's Howie Do It joins us... Tonight on an all new show- a contestant goes CRAZY on Howie... Throwing, cursing, (Think Bale-like)... And of course we have to ask the happily married Howie what he will be doing tomorrow night.. Champagne? Silk Robe? Check and Check... but where will his wife be????? Then we move right along to the beautiful Sarah Jessica Parker... She has a date tomorrow night.. Is it with hubby Matthew Broderick? Not so much... Nick Cannon- Newly announced host of America's Got Talent joins the BBS tonight.. He's travelling this weekend going to AGT auditions.. So how does he plan to keep wifey Mariah Carey happy on V-Day?? Fire? Fur? Flights? He tells Billy all about it- AND.. some intimate details.. Like who's really in charge in the Carey/Cannon household? Who gets to hold the remote???? Chef Gordon Ramsey has nothing better to do then help you whip up a great stay at home V-Day dinner...YUM! The Millionaire Matchmaker has advice on how you ladies can repay your man after an amazing V-Day.. and its very simple... Plus- we are behind the scenes with the Jo-Bros and Alec Baldwin on set at SNL... Happy Valentine's Day everyone! ON MONDAY Happy Presidents Day! House Returns to Fox tonight and Hugh Laurie joins the Billy Bush Show to talk about new developments in this season. Fast and Furious Star- Jordana Brewster joins Billy.. Shes dated Jeter, Mark McGrath, and Mark Wahlberg.. Now she wants to have a FLING with you.. Find out how with Billy tonight... Kim Kardashian checks in with Billy on what to expect in her upcoming season of Keeping up with the Kardashians.. and how the show documented sister Khloe's arrest for DUI... Plus Love him or hate him.. Sanjaya from American Idol is on the show tonight.. He talks about his rise to "fame" How the girls would scream for him, his hair, and random people going on hunger strikes to support him... koo koo Have a great weekend :) Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 12, 2009 February 12, 2009 Tonight on the show... Shes been criticized by many, and praised by just as many as well.... Octo Mom has inserted herself into pop culture. We have her personal pub Joann Killeen in studio with us... Will she defend the mother of 14? What are her plans now? And is Octo Mom receiving death threats??? CRAZY!!!! Moving on... Nancy O'Dell (Dancy as Billy affectionately calls her) announced to the BBS who her partner would be on DWTS this past Tues night... Tonight- We talk to Tony Dovalani and Billy gives him some helpful hints and tips about Dancy :) Raven Haired Julianne Moore joins us tonight... So what does the knockout do with her hubby for Valentine's Day??? Is it all about him?? Or is it about the kids? Julianne has a good laugh with us Keeping up with the Valentines Day motif... Nick Lachey is in Studio with us.. What's he doing for Gal Pal Vanessa? AND OH THE PRESSURE... why he thinks its a hyped up holiday... Thats all tonight on the Billy Bush Show.. make sure to tune in Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 11, 2009 February 11, 2009 Hola Mi Gentes... We are the dancing queens!!!! Tonight on the show- DWTS contestant Denise Richards joins us... Shes on the set of a new movie starring alongside former DWTS contestant Jane Seymour... Can she dance? What happened when she took a dance class at age 3? Also... what does she think about her competition- Nancy O'Dell and Shawn Johnson Then we dance our way on to Shawn Johnson- is she nervous? Does she have an unfair advantage being a gymnast and Olympic gold medalist? Also what does she think about fellow Olympian Michael Phelps and bong-gate??? Then ladies-- we have Bravo's Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger (I'm addicted to this show) in studio. She will teach you how to dance your way into the heart of your ideal man... FUN!!! Plus- More details on Chris Brown and Rihanna- Who brings the most box office heat? and a new Record in Downloads... who has the top spot Make sure to tune in tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 10, 2009 February 10, 2009 It's a busy Tuesday on the Billy Bush Show! First we have new information on Rihanna and Chris Brown..Our crew here TALKED to Chris's stepfather... that's right at the top of the show tonight! and from Tragedy to Triumph- Dave Otunga joins Billy tonight. Who??? You're asking.. He is Jennifer Hudson's fiance and he talks to Billy about Jennifer, their life together, and how she is doing in the aftermath of her families tragedy Everyone better be glued to Dancing With The Stars this season. Access Hollywood's Nancy O'Dell (Billy's Co Host) joins the cast. She is in studio with us tonight. Plus- you heard the Donald talk about hitting on Dancy Nancy last night- tonight she tells us how it all went down And like we do every week- The newest "Losers" to get voted off The Biggest Loser join us. Joelle and Carla stirred the pot this season.. Are they still friends? And now that they lost weight... What are the V-Day plans???? And- we've got Dr. Ruth giving Billy sex advice on national TV... Lots to talk about tonight- Make sure you tune in! Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 9, 2009 February 9, 2009 It's Grammy Mania Monday on the BBS We had an exclusive spot backstage as the Grammys were airing live last night! On the show tonight: Grammy Winner- Carrie Underwood- she and Billy watch and listen to Jennifer Hudson's performance Grammy Winner- Adele- best new artist Grammy Nominee- Katy Perry on her "Fruity performance" Grammy Performer/Nominee- MIA who performed on the show 9 months pregnant and was due to have the baby last night Grammy Winner- Ne-Yo on his friends Chris Brown and Rihanna AND the Donald... Trump That is... he and Billy chat about the new cast of DWTS... Nancy O'Dell (Access Hollywood) is a contestant.. Donald had a thing for her.. he and Billy talk about it tonight... Plus inside information on how CBS and the Grammy's scrambled at the last minute to fill in the gaps that Rihanna and Chris Brown's absence created... It's all on the BBS tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 5, 2009 February 5, 2009 Its a Thursday nigh smack down on the Billy Bush Show- And in the ring first: Etta vs Beyonce then Faye vs Hillary with special appearance's by Sarah Palin vs Ashley Judd CAT FIGHT WOO HOO Moving on... You will hear the audio of Capt Sully and Air Traffic Control as the Miracle on the Hudson plane hits the birds We have Nick Lachey in studio- He talks Jess, Mom Jeans, Joe Simpson, Vanessa Manillo and marriage- plus will he ever do newlyweds again? Justin Guarini the first Runner up from American Idol joins us.. He talks Kelly Clarkson, her success, and he has some big family news to share Its all coming up tonight on the BBS Tomorrow- We are backstage at Grammy rehearsal... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 4, 2009 February 4, 2009 WE HAVE A BIG SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT! CHRISTIAN BALE HAS REALLY OUTDONE HIMSELF WITH HIS REMARKS ON THE SET OF TERMINATOR: SALVATION... FEAR NOT THOUGH, PLENTY OF OTHER CELEBS HAVE DONE THE SAME THING. TONIGHT WE COUNTDOWN THE TOP 5 CELEBRITY FREAK OUTS CAUGHT ON TAPE... NOW ON TO THE GUESTS... KIM KARDASHIAN JOINS THE SHOW TONIGHT.. SHE TALKS MARRIAGE PLANS, J LO, AND JESSICA SIMPSON WITH 2 GRAMMY NOMS IN HER CORNER.. ESTELLE JOINS THE SHOW TONIGHT - SHE TALKS KANYE, WHAT TO EXPECT OF THEIR PERFORMANCE AT THE GRAMMYS ON SUNDAY... AND SHE WEIGHS IN ON THE OCTUPLET SITUATION... SHE IS ONE OF NINE CHILDREN... AND A BILLY BUSH SHOW FAVORITE.. GAVIN DEGRAW- IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY TODAY.. HE TELLS US WHATS GOING ON IN HIS LIFE, TALKS ABOUT JESSICA SIMPSON AND THE MOM JEAN EPIDEMIC AND HE HAS HIS OWN TAKE ON THE OCTUPLETS TOO... TOMORROW ON THE SHOW... NICK LACHEY IN STUDIO....PLUS MANY OTHERS... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Bush-Jacked! Billy Gets Hit By A Long-Shot! February 3, 2009 Justin Long owes me an apology and Ellen owes Justin Long an apology. Neither needs to be a long apology. Ha ha! Yesterday on "Ellen," Justin shared a story about being on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Break-Up" starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston, the film that brought them together as a couple. Justin said that I had asked him about his worst break-up on the red carpet. At that moment, his current breakup, unbeknownst to the public, was fresh... the day before. So he began to tell me. He said I was looking over his shoulder at Jennifer Aniston because she had just arrived - i.e. that I was blowing him off. What kind of vacuous superficial guy would do that? Apparently me! Not so! Today that story made it on AOL's TV Top 5, at #3. (Click HERE to watch the clip of Justin on "Ellen.") When it aired yesterday on "Ellen," I got a bunch of E-mails and Facebook postings alerting me... and in some cases blasting me (in fun). We pulled the original, unedited tape of my interview with Justin Long. Never happened. I never asked him about a break-up... We had fun. We talked about Vince Vaughn's torso and other stuff. I have provided the interview right here for you to dissect. (Click HERE to watch Billy's interview). In short, the Long-man owes the Bushman an apology for the national TV shot. I can take it. Oh, but Ellen owes Justin an apology for airing it 'cuz he asked for my name to be bleeped. He asked twice! Ellen said yes. It wasn't. They aren't live so they kept it in on purpose. Justin, we both got thrown under the bus. You by Ellen and me by you! All in good fun my man. I await the retraction. And, if I don't get one, then I'll be the one who's "Just Not That Into You!" Posted by Billy Bush at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 3, 2009 February 3, 2009 It's a Super Tuesday tonight on the Billy Bush Show First up... Everyone is talking about Christian Bale's meltdown on the set of his new flick Terminator: Salvation We grab Super Director Michael Bay and ask him what he feels about talent that throw tantrums... Its Grammy week- so we are bringing out the artists in full force- Tonight- Nominated for 2 Grammys- Ryan Tedder... On what its like to be recognized.. and who really wrote the song Bleeding Love for Leona Lewis? Was it 50/50 between he and Jesse McCartney And we have Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas... He's nominated for 3 Grammys and he weighs in on what it was like to do the amazing Pepsi commercial featuring himself and the legendary Bob Dylan... Plus.. his views on where this country is headed politically... smart guy! Billy lost a bet to JB of Inside the NFL... JB calls in to collect... and David and Daniel were voted off of the Biggest Loser. Daniel is the youngest and heaviest contestant to ever be on the show... Billy helps motivate and the guys dish on their new goals in life... Plus... Hillary disses Bill???? and what Ashton Kutsher and Mark Spitz have to say about Michael Phelps and his... extracurricular activities... It's all on the show tonight! Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for February 2, 2009 February 2, 2009 It's Groundhog Day!!! Tonight on the show.... The very English actor Hugh Laurie.. Or as many of you know him "House, MD" joins us tonight.. The 100th episode of House airs tonight on Fox. Woo Hoo... Will House be getting any love from the ladies this season... make sure you tune in to find out The "inspired" Grammy nominee Lady Gaga joins us in studio... She is fun, wacky, and all over the place... Her and Billy wax poetic... David Foster joins the show to comment on Jennifer Hudson's lip sync of the National Anthem during yesterday's SB.... AND everyone is still talking about Jessica Simpson's weight... Barack Obama weighs in, so does her ex husband Nick, and even Late Show Talking Head (or chin) Jay Leno has an opinion... and we've got them for you It's all coming up tonight on the BBS Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 30, 2009 January 30, 2009 The weekend is here (Go Cards) Tonight on the Billy Bush Show JB James Brown from Inside the NFL breaks down the Super Bowl match-up this week.. He and Billy pick their teams... and a bet is wagered.... Teri Hatcher sits down with Billy- She disses on Love, Her new bed mate, and why each new season of Desperate Housewive's features her in less clothing... Chris Jericho of the WWE was publicly challenged by Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler). Chris checks in with Billy... and they go at it head to head in a verbal beat down Yesterday- a publicist released that Chad Lowe and girlfriend Kim are expecting.. We got one better. Chad tells Billy the great news himself... How girlfriend Kim told him, and Billy gives some pretty good parenting advice... NEXT WEEK: It's Grammy Mania... We are loading up with all the nominated acts. Ryan Tedder, Sara Bareilles, Ne-Yo, GaGa, and a TON more... Make sure to tune in Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 29, 2009 January 29, 2009 Happy Thursday Tonight on the Billy Bush Show: The beautiful Maria Menounos from Access Hollywood "weighs" in on the Jessica Simpson weight controversy.. She has had her own weight issues (in the past) and has a great take on all of it Harry Connick Jr joins the show- What was it like making out with Renee Zellwegger? How does he keep in shape? and his thoughts on Equis... and full nude scenes... Hell's Kitchen Chef Gordon Ramsey talks to Billy.. His show premieres tonight on Fox. He's fiery in the kitchen.. whats he like in the bedroom and Hoobastank- joins us in studio.. The guys give us a taste of their newest single.. and we dish with them on their love lives.. One is married, another is engaged and the third... who is neither.. is trying to figure out what is wrong with him... Tomorrow on the show: Chad Lowe has announced to the world that he and girlfriend are expecting their first baby... Everyone else got a press release... We got Chad Billy sits down with Desperate Housewives star- Terri Hatcher JB (James Brown) of Inside the NFL calls in to talk a little football with Billy and also about his strange sleeping habits and Tara Connor (Former Miss USA) talks about her love life with Billy.. Is she in a relationship? Who? and where is it going Its all on the BBS tonight (and Tomorrow night) Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 28, 2009 January 28, 2009 Its a beautiful day in LA on the Billy Bush Show Tonight- Raven haired Julianne Moore checks in to chat about her newest project... www.savethechildren.org. She has a great way to pitch in and give Valentines day cards at the same time.. Plus- what are her plans for Love day???? Warren Sapp- DWTS Runner up checks in from Tampa where he is covering the Super Bowl.. He gives us tips on office pools and weighs in on Donny Osmond joing DWTS as well as whether or not Misty May Trainor should be allowed back on the show Bob Barker is with us today.. Billy the Elephant is the lone one in the LA Zoo. Bob Barker donated 1.5 million dollars to help him move to a sanctuary. He talks to Billy about it... and Some unflattering photos appeared of Jessica Simpson that were taken this past weekend. Galina Espinoza from People magazine joins us to discuss why everyone is picking on Jess. She also has great insight as to why the apparent weight gain. It's actually really cute... Tomorrow Gordon Ramsey Hoobastank in Studio (switched them out today) more to come... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 27, 2009 January 27, 2009 Tonight on the show: First- PETA had a very racy ad created for the Super Bowl this Sunday.. Thinks scantily clad women and... veggies.. (oh my). They claim NBC pulled the ad because it was to racy.. We talk to PETA tonight... Idol is back in full swing for 3 nights this week.. Kara DioGuardi joins Billy to talk about her engagement, bikini girl, and Joanna Pacitti... a contestant sot so different from last years Carly Smithson Kevin James is with us again to talk about his "brand".. Just kidding he's very humble.. but if his box office movie career is less than stellar.. Billy has some advice for him... His mustache in Paul Blart looks a little 70's porn star ish... Would he dare????? Did you hear about the 8 babies born yesterday .. to one woman.. in less then 5 minutes? Tony Potts from Access Hollywood goes to the scene and gets us the inside scoop on the crazy phenomenon And- Ted Kennedy's health is under constant scrutiny by the public. His nephew, Mark Shriver, joins us tonight to update us on his condition... Tomorrow on the show... Paula Abdul in studio Hoobastank- in Studio Bob Barker he's bailing Billy out (not our Billy- one of GIANT proportions)... Make sure to tune in... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 26, 2009 January 26, 2009 Its a manic Monday on TBBS... Kevin James rocked # 1 again at the box office this weekend.. So how does he celebrate? Well by calling into us of course... AND We have the ENTIRE CAST of the sure to be # 1 movie "He's Just Not That Into You" Thats right- Jennifer Aniston - Drew Barrymore - Ginnifer Goodwn - Scarlett Johansson - Ben Affleck - Justin Long - Bradley Cooper - and Kevin Connolly Plus Access Hollywood was on the Red Carpet at the SAG awards last night.. We hear from Brad and Angie and Alec Baldwin and his amazingly beautiful daughter Ireland... It's all on the show.. tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 23, 2009 January 23, 2009 Happy Friday Mi Gente Tonight on the Billy Bush Show we have an exclusive radio interview with President George H.W. Bush. He talks his inaugural attire and we get his thoughts on President Barack Obama... What we should expect, and how he thinks the new President will do. Continuing with the American theme...Tara Connor, Miss USA 2006...or as she says "Mess USA" is with us.. She discusses her bad girl past and how she even thought about taking her own life... Oscar nominee Ron Howard (for Director- Frost/Nixon) is also with us tonight. The movie opens wide tonight... He talks about his excitement and his dedication to the Obama campaign.. Has he met him? What does he think and he reacts to a touching ad that his children took out for him in Variety magazine... Lastly- Britney Spears is no stranger to controversy. Her new single "If You Seek Amy" is drumming up a lot of protest from parents...Say the title a couple of times fast and you will understand why... Joe Levy from Blender Magazine offers us his insight on the whole situation... Oh and we found the BEST Barack Obama impersonator EVER.. You'll hear him tonight Make sure to listen and have a safe weekend Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 22, 2009 January 22, 2009 It's an Oscar Nomination Show tonight!!!! First- He's the dude, playing a dude, disguised as another dude.. We talk to Robert Downey Jr and congratulate him on his Nom 2 African American women were nominated for Oscars in the same category.. Taraji Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Viola Davis (Doubt) We talk to both of them about what it feels like to be nominated, the newly elected President, and of course.. what they will be wearing on the Big NIGHT And- Although Kate Winslet and Leo D were snubbed for their performances in Revolutionary Road... There cast member, Michael Shannon was not.. He joins us to discuss his Golden Globe snub.. and well what he's wearing to the show... Its all on the Billy Bush Show... Tonight Tomorrow Night- George Bush (41) Did you see the hat he had on at Inauguration???? He talks fashion, and more importantly, his reaction to the election... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 21, 2009 January 21, 2009 Tonight on the Billy Bush Show... Everyone was looking to see what Michelle O wore last night... It was a beautiful Jason Wu piece... Jason Who???? The 26 year old found out with the rest of the country what Mrs. O was wearing..while watching it on TV.. We talk to the very excited and hot new designer... And whats with him and life size dolls? Meredith Vieira, host of the Today Show was in DC last night.. She talks fashion with us..and what to expect 100 days in to the Obama administration.. will the press still be kind? Plus Maria Menounos, from Access Hollywood is on hand.. She was out and about in DC for the inauguration too.. what did she see? Who did she talk to? AND FUN WITH SOUND.. Diane Sawyer was a little (ahem) tipsy still from last night's festivities... She is a hot mess on the air.. we have it for you... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 20, 2009 January 20, 2009 Tonight.. we promise not to disappoint either... The first black President portrayed on TV was "David Palmer" played by actor Dennis Haysbert. He checks in with us regarding this powerful moment.. and weighs in on whether or not his portrayal helped pave the way to a black President Private Practice star Kate Walsh was in DC for the big event... She explains what is going on around her and what the atmosphere is like DIDDY... First it was Vote or Die.. Now its just pure Bliss for the mogul... He has a plan of action... and hes telling us about it tonight' Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 15, 2009 January 15, 2009 Fellow Bushy enthusiasts.. my apologies for the delay of this note.. my computer and blackberry were acting up and I couldnt get email out until now... Tonight on the show Billy got the first interview with Howie Mandel after his health scare... were defibrillators involved in his treatment??? Jenny McCarthy joins us to talk fitness, looking great, and she talks about the death of Jett Travolta Tomorrow on the show... Kevin James hosts with Billy Bush... too funny together... a witness to the plane crash today... Adam Levine from Maroon 5 is performing this weekend to kick off the inauguration festivities John Legend will be there too- Monday... Idol judge Kara DioGuardi talks Simon Cowell.... Chloe from 24 Marylynn Rajskub has a great story on breastfeeding and advice... Ryan Tedder talks his amazing success Brad Arnold from Three Doors Down chats with Billy and part 2 of Kevin james... SO FREAKING FUNNY Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 14, 2009 January 14, 2009 Tonight on the show... New Idol Judge Kara DioGuardi made her TV premiere to the tune of over 30 million viewers.. We talk to her all about what it felt like and also- her beef with bikini girl.. if you have not seen it.. you must YouTube.. pretty classic Another HUGE (no pun intended) show last night was the Biggest Loser... Trainer Bob Harper LOST IT on Joelle.. classic.. he talks about his major rant session with Billy tonight... And truly a gifted musician.. John Legend his inauguration plans... he worked very closely on the Obama camp- and apparently The big O is a big fan of his... He's collaborating with someone pretty cool this weekend... find out who on the show tonight Tomorrow.. Jenny McCarthy talks being fit and fab for less AND about Jett Travolta.. her thoughts on the Autism controversy.. very moving Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 13, 2009 January 13, 2009 TONIGHT- AMERICAN IDOL COMES BACK TO THE GLEE (OR GROAN) OF TELEVISION WATCHERS EVERYWHERE- SIMON COWELL JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT THE UPCOMING SEASON, THE NEW JUDGE, AND THE EVER ENTERTAINING ANTICS OF MS ABDUL ANOTHER FIRECRACKER ON - DECK-- MISS ANN COULTER FIGHTS EVERYONE.. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO IT WAS MATT LAUER, YESTERDAY IT WAS WITH THE WOMEN ON THE VIEW.. TODAY... WILL SHE FIGHT WITH THE BUSHY??? TUNE IN TO FIND OUT... BRAD ARNOLD- LEAD SINGER FROM THREE DOORS DOWN WHO COULD NOT BE ANY NICER JOINS BILLY ON THE PHONE.. IS HE REALLY AS "REDNECK" AS SOME CLAIM???? WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT FOR YOU AND FINALLY- RYAN SEACREST WENT ON AIR ABOUT GETTING SNUBBED BY BRAD PITT AND ANGELINA JOLIE... WELL YOUR OWN BILLY BUSH GOT MR PITT ON HIS OWN MERITS... CONTRARY TO WHAT SEACREST SAYS.. BILLY RESPONDS TO THE "CONTROVERSY" IN AN AMAZING WAY.... ITS ALL ON THE BILLY BUSH SHOW TONIGHT Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Truth Behind The Brad Pitt Golden Globes Red Carpet Interview January 12, 2009 Everybody's asking me about Brad and Angie stopping for me and not Seacrest. It happens, especially with the big stars that arrive late, that sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. Then, someone showed me this from an Us Magazine posting today: "Jolie and Pitt did stop for NBC's Billy Bush, but Seacrest said, 'there's an NBC deal there. NBC hosted the Globes, and they have a deal to talk to the people who come to the Globes. "Here's what I realized when I went down there,' Seacrest went on. 'I realized quickly that it's against the rules to walk down onto the carpet from the platform." Ryan must be assuming I was doing the official NBC pre-show whose producers, like all those running official live telecasts, try as hard as they can to set up commitments from stars in advance. I was not... Strictly Access duty last night -- Nancy O'Dell did the NBC pre-show as she has for the last several years. By the way, Brad and Angelina did not do the pre-show either. In the end, I left my platform and interviewed Brad (sans Angie) on the carpet in front of my platform. I gather Brad did ET as well. No "deal'... or "big deal" really. Just funny. I have had stars pass by for one reason or another over the years... Maybe something happened they didn't particularly love in the past, who knows... There are a lot of stars and it isn't going to go perfectly every time. They're all in different moods on different nights. You swing and hopefully hit as many as possible. If you're good, and Ryan is, then you take chances and risks... Thankfully, it works out more often than not for Ryan, for me and for most who are going for it. Now, our Access Co-ed softball team has a game... We're sleepless but fired up for another win. Posted by Billy Bush at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 12, 2009 January 12, 2009 Tonight on the Billy Bush Show... We were all over the Golden Globes last night... Here's who Billy has on with him tonight- Kate Winslet and Leo DiCaprio from the red carpet... Kate backstage with her husband after her 2 wins Simon Baker who is literally Billys twin... Alec Baldwin busts Billy's chops Steve Carrell.. chats with Billy Christina Applegate chats with Billy about surviving Breast Cancer... AND Heidi Klum attacks Billy on the carpet- it is a HUGE SHOW tonight... Tomorrow on the Show.. Ann Coulter woo hoo Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 8, 2009 January 8, 2009 It's Thursday-- woo hoo!!! Tonight on the show-- in her tireless effort to promote her new film Bride Wars- the adorable Kate Hudson joins us.. she talks about being single- and whether or not she will ever marry again.... Lisa Rinna was quoted yesterday on her "over the top plastic surgery" We chat with her about her regrets.. and ask her what else has she gotten done.... some things should remain private... not with Lisa.. we ask and she responds... Akon- his single "Right Now (na na na) is blowing up the charts.. BUT did you know that he recently collaborated with the Gloved Wonder.. YES Michael Jackson.. so cool-- he chats about Michael- and WE debunk some rumors about Akon- Jail time? 5 kids 3 different moms? Diamond Mine??? Plus- you wont hear it anywhere else- we have the clips of Tom Cruise on the View (it will air tomorrow) talking about John Travolta/Scientology/and the tragic death of 16 yr old Jett... It's all on the Billy Bush Show Tonight! Heads up- Tomorrow on the Show Jon Voight joins the cast of 24 which premieres Sunday night.. he checks in with us about it Howie Mandel has a new show airing tomorrow night "Howie Do It" chats about it AND the SUPER FAB Lady GaGa joins us in studio... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for January 7, 2009 January 7, 2009 It's Wednesday.. woo hoo We've got a big show for you tonight... More John Travolta information... He has publicly stated that his deceased son, Jett, suffered from Kawasaki Disease.. We talk to Brian Litrell, of the Backstreet Boys... Coincidentally- his son was diagnosed with the disease just 3 short weeks ago.. we get his take on the disease and the whole ordeal... Now thinking happy thoughts... Nothing gets us in a good mood like the bubbly Kate Hudson... She checks in to talk about her new movie Bride Wars.. she also puts to bed those nasty rumors that her and co-star Anne Hathaway are in a war off set as well... Speaking of marriage/brides- Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt "shocked" the world when they eloped a month or so back... The devious duo calls in to discuss their (ahem) quickie marriage and the plans for a huge wedding in the future.. as long as Heidi's mom approves (yikes) and now to debunk some couple news.... Michael Lohan.. yes him.. was rumored to be dating Real Housewives of Atlanta star (if that's what we're calling it these days).. NOT TRUE says Michael... he's happily engaged to his fiance Erin... PLUS he's got a new years resolution that WE HOPE he can keep... It's all on the Billy Bush Show tonight... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show forJanuary 6, 2009 January 6, 2009 Happy Tuesday! We have a big show for you tonight... On deck- Today Show/NBC Chief Medical Doctor - Dr. Nancy Snyderman analyzes the newest findings in the Jett Travolta travesty. She helps break down what could have happened to the poor teen On a different note though... 90210 is back tonight and Jenny Garth is in studio to tell us all about it.. she is soo freaking cute... The Mentalist, CBS's highest rated new show is also all new and we've got the Aussie hunk, Simon Baker on with us.. SO HOT! and finally- being that we ARE a radio show.. our musical guest tonight is none other than the fab Ryan Tedder- Front man for the band One Republic- a genius song writer, and all around good guy.. He co-wrote Leona Lewis' smash hit Bleeding Love-- with Jesse McCartney-- find out how that collaboration happened... its all on the Billy Bush Show TONIGHT Woo hoo Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show forJanuary 5, 2009 January 5, 2009 Happy New Year! We here at the Billy Bush Show wish you all a very happy and healthy new year. It is unfortunate that tonight we start the New Year off with some very sad news. The death of 16 yr old Jett Travolta. We take you to the Bahamas, where Tony Potts of Access Hollywood is live to get you the latest news on this tragic story. We also speak to a leading physician about the possible cause of death... On a brighter note- Howie Mandel joins us tonight- its a new year for him.. what did he do for the holidays? What are his resolutions? and the Beautiful Cheryl Tiegs joins us... She's a judge on a show that proves that beauty really only is skin deep.. Billy is Gaga for her- its quite entertaining... Its all on the show tonight... make sure to tune in Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for December 17, 2008 December 17, 2008 TONIGHT ON THE BILLY BUSH SHOW... BILLY HAS A HEARTFELT CONVERSATION WITH AMERICA'S MOST WANTED HOST JOHN WALSH. AFTER 27 YEARS, A MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH HIS SON ADAM'S MURDER... WHAT THE FAMILY FEELS ABOUT IT AND HOW THEY CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF THEIR SON DURING THE HOLIDAYS DONALD TRUMP IS ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.. WAS HE ASKED TO PARTAKE IN A MULTI BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT SCHEME. WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS FRIENDS THAT DID, AND WHAT ADVICE DOES HE HAVE FOR THE AVERAGE INVESTOR. PLUS- WHAT HE'S GETTING HIS SON FOR CHRISTMAS.. ITS NOT AS OVER THE TOP AS YOU WOULD IMAGINE MOLLY SIMS IS ON THE SHOW TONIGHT- SHE HAS A MAJOR SMOOCH SESSION WITH JIM CAREY IN HIS NEW MOVIE YES MAN (OUT FRIDAY) WHAT DID SHE THINK ABOUT MAKING OUT WITH THE FUNNY MAN... DO THEY GET HOT AND HEAVY? AND JAMIE FOX IS IN STUDIO- HE GREW UP DIRT POOR.. HIS WORST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVER AND WHAT HE DOES FOR HIS KIDS NOW EVERY YEAR... CAN YOU SAY SLEIGH RIDING IN LA? ITS ALL ON THE BILLY BUSH SHOW TONIGHT Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for December 15, 2008 December 15, 2008 HOLA! ITS A FULL HOUSE ON THE BILLY BUSH SHOW... IN STUDIO TONIGHT... JAMIE FOXX- HIS NEW ALBUM DROPS TOMORROW.. HE IS IN A NEW MOVIE.. THE SOLO ARTIST... HE CHANGED HIS MIND ON GAY MARRIAGE..FIND OUT HOW AND WHO INFLUENCED HIM JENNY GARTH IS IN STUDIO AS WELL... SHE IS SUPER PRETTY IN PERSON AND MORE IMPORTANTLY- SUPER NICE... FIND OUT ABOUT 90210 INSIDE INFORMATION...AND WHAT HOW MUCH IS HER HUSBAND, PETER FACCINELLI ENJOYING THE FAME.. HE PLAYS DR. CARLYLE IN THE MOVIE TWILIGHT... PLUS- WHERE IN THE WORLD IS GAVIN DEGRAW... ITS ALL ON THE BILLY BUSH SHOW TONIGHT Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for December 11, 2008 December 11, 2008 It is Golden Globe Nomination Day on the Billy Bush Show.. We have a GIANT show for you tonight... First Up- Jeremy Piven nominated for best supporting actor on Entourage touches base with Billy on his big win... Big question for Jeremy.. who is he taking to the show... Ladies listen up.... Not to be outdone by his co-star, Kevin Connolly who plays E on the hit show was nominated for best actor in a series... Who did he tell first thing in the morning of his nomination? And why did he think he was hallucinating? Susan Sarandon, the sexy temptress, was also nominated this morning for her role on the HBO movie Bernard and Doris.. Her category has all women who are either 50 + or close to it.. what does she think about ageism in movies? Is it still a problem? Plus Dave Karger from EW breaks down all the categories for us and we have a special addition of Rank or Skank tonight.. The Golden Globe's Rub or Snub edition.. and all of Hollywood'e reactions.. It's all on the Billy Bush Show Tonight!!! Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for December 9, 2008 December 9, 2008 Tonight on the show... Daniel Radcliffe... Harry Potter himself checks in with Billy tonight... What's it like being on stage naked? What did he do when he met Julia Roberts backstage? What does he think about Robert Pattinson and Twilight??? Brandy.. She is out with her new CD "Human". She is finally talking about the tragedy that changed her life when she hit a car and the driver of the car passed away.. How has she coped? What got her through? Tim Hutton... Star of the new TNT hit TV Show Leverage is on with us. His thoughts on TV in general, the new show, and what's coming up in the near future... Plus all the entertainment news you can handle... It's all right here tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for December 8, 2008 December 8, 2008 Greetings from my newly built studio.. it's way fab- in case you were wondering. I apologize for last week, but we were literally bouncing from building to building to get the shows done. (Thank you to MYFM and their hospitality) But I Digress... On the show tonight.. its a 1 2 punch knockout... First Simon Cowell dishes on this season of American Idol, Paula Abdul, the new judge Kara, and most importantly... His love life... Not to be out done however.. Paula Abdul joins us in studio... She talks idol and the tragedy that has recently rocked her world, the death of the young girl who stalked her... this is a can't miss And lastly- She has sold more records this time around... than Kanye, Beyonce, the Jo Bros, and yes even Britney.. Taylor Swift joins us in studio.. She tells us what she thinks about her stardom and also-- what does she think about singers who lip sync (ahem Britney) Its all on the Billy Bush Show Tonight... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for November 25, 2008 November 25, 2008 We are packing them in like sardines on the Billy Bush Show tonight... FIRST- Heidi and Spencer get married.. did they even BOTHER to call good old poppa Montag.. Billy learns all about their ways and what does Heidi's dad really think about Spencer when he talks to him on the show tonight... Then- People's sexiest man alive- (and star of the new movie Australia) joins Billy's show tonight... He just bought an apartment in NYC right below his co-star Nicole Kidman.. he wants to play a practical joke on her involving his backside.. he tells Billy about it tonight... PLUS- In an exclusive interview we talk to Sara Larson.. remember her? George Clooney's "It" girl??? She talks about how they met, who she met because of George, and the breakup.. pretty great stuff all from the horses mouth... MOTHER OF ALL THINGS HOLIDAY... Martha Stuart helps us get ready for Thanksgiving. She has some great Turkey day tips for you, and she reveals a rather unconventional way that she gets her Turkey for dinner TRIUMPH... The latest biggest loser to get voted off is on the show.. Billy (of course) wants to know about the sex life.. very funny stuff... NOTE: Tomorrow on the Billy Bush Show- we are all out Thanksgiving Prep- Pink tells her best/worst T-day story ever..it involves booze, throwing mashed potatoes, and a trip to the emergency room... classic. David Archuletta shares a family secret recipe.. Funeral Potatoes (sounds uplifting right) Gavin DeGraw teaches us how to cook a turkey woodsman style- it involves a garbage can.. nuff said Jason Mraz tells us what his plans are for the holiday and it involves over 40 people at 1 dinner And Funny Man Frank Caliendo helps us laugh our way into the night Thursday: Another All-Star lineup- we have: Cher- on dating younger men... Jason Priestly on directing 90210 and the skinny girls on the set Kelly Pickler opens up about Jennifer Hudson and the tragedy that surrounded her AND Tina Fey hangs with Billy- did she really influence the Election??? Friday- DWTS Brook Burke hops on with Billy to give you some pointers for weight loss post Thanksgiving binge... Seal reveals whether it was love or lust at first site when he met now wife Heidi Klum... and also- how he reacted when she told him she was pregnant with another man's child... Joy Behar quiets rumors of dissaray on the set of the View.. she tells us what all the ladies really think about each other and Daniel Craig- Bond, James Bond... gets very playful with Billy... I wish you all a very Happy and Safe Thanksgiving.. we all have a lot to be thankful for.. . Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for November 24, 2008 November 24, 2008 Happy Monday Folks... We have a jam packed show for you tonight.... First.. Kristin Stewart who plays Bella in this past weekend's box office winner Twilight calls in to chat about the success of the movie.. while shes on the phone Rob Pattinson chimes in.. is there something going on between the 2 of them... Billy asks.... From the two (maybe) lovebirds to the battle on the dance floor we go... Bruno Tonioli 10 he shouts... he tells billy who the favorite is to beat.. and how the other contestants can pull off an upset... From Bruno to Brook Burke.. the front runner in the competition.. What is she doing to spice up her style... Lance Bass is hot and fiery as it is.. What will be his secret weapon tonight? and to round out the DWTS crew.. Warren Sapp the 290 pound Defensive End... has made it all the way through.. and he is planning something big to shock his way to the top.. he tells Billy all about it tonight Access Hollywood Host Maria Menounos snagged one out of only 2 interviews from Ashley Dupre (flash back- Elliot Spitzer's Call Girl) we talk to her and we hear what Ashley has to say..... AND finally- Joel Madden from Good Charlotte joins us in studio.. He talks his baby Harlow, he talks the OLD Nicole Richie and how she reformed her life.. and he talks Benji and Paris Hilton..its a great one... Make sure you tune in tonight.... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for November 20, 2008 November 20, 2008 I know I know - shame on me I have been a bad blogger.... Lets get everyone up to date... Tues- All the Baldwins are dead.. (South Park reference if you are not immature like me and don't watch the show) They are not dead- they were on Billy's Show. Alec chatted about Tina, Sarah, that embarrassing phone call made public... and William talked about Alec.. not kidding on this one... he also talked about the rest of the Baldwin brothers and labeled them all pretty accurately.. very funny stuff We also had the the latest contestant of the biggest loser on.. you know Billy cares only about one thing.. how did the sex life improve.. very very funny Wed- No on is more of a champion of gay rights than Melissa Etheridge.. She came on the show to tell us all about why this is a civil rights issue. Billy asks her some tough questions.. and she hits each one out of the park We chat with Gavin DeGraw about his trip around the world... But enough about those days... Its all about TONIGHT.. ROBERT PATTINSON is on the Billy Bush Show. If you don't know who he is- you have been living in a cave, 40 leagues under the sea, in a place far far away from here. He is the bullet that shot right to the top of the Hollywood elite. He is starring in the movie Twilight about a girl and a vampires love/battle of wills.. he talks about the movie. the fame that comes with it.. his worst audition ever AND why he loves Tyra Banks so much... Speaking of Tyra.. Have you ever seen E! Channel's Talk Soup.. Host, Joel McHale cannot physically make it through a show w/out insulting Tyra at least once.. Being that Robert is such a HUGE fan of Tyras- we thought we'd address his anger towards her tonight. He joins us And Finally- Funny and Beautiful Jane Krakowski joins us tonight. Since Tina Fey has done Tina Palin- 30 Rock has been rejuveinated.. Jane- one of the stars of the show has nothing but love for the Teenster.. and we break a little Britney news here... If you missed any of the interviews.. please go to billybushshow.com They are all archived... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for November 17, 2008 November 17, 2008 Happy Monday...Funday... Tonight on the show... After the major weekend that the James Bond movie had.. its no wonder that everyone would LOVE to get their hands on the next Bond Role...even Jamie Foxx... we hear from him tonight... Snoop Doggy Dog... he reacts about how his family had to be evacuated due to the California fires... Taylor Swift is star struck when she meets Diddy.. plus... is she done talking about Joe Jonas???? And finally Christina Milian has a new video game out.. AND she is starring alongside steamy Matthew McC in an upcoming role.. do they smooch??? Find out on the BBS tonight TOMORROW ON THE SHOW... Billy's exclusive sit down with Alec Baldwin....woo hoo Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for November 14, 2008 November 14, 2008 TGIF... He's Bush, Bill Bush... :) The new Bond movie is in theaters tonight and we are talking to 007 himself Daniel Craig.. very dreamy... She's 50 and fabulous... Patricia Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond fame is on with us tonight.. Our first question to her.. What do her former co-star Brad Garrett.. and Kanye West have in common... Hilarity ensues... And finally English funny man and creator of the Office Ricky Gervais joins the Billy Bush Show Tonight.. he will have your sides splitting with laughter... Have a happy and safe weekend everyone :) Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for November 13, 2008 November 13, 2008 We are fast and furious on the Billy Bush show tonight... First..Chandra Wilson, who plays Dr. Bailey on Grey's Anatomy weighs in on whether or not the firing of a fellow actress had anything to do with the lesbian plotline that the show had taken..... Angela Bassett has joined the cast of er along with her husband Courtney B Vance. Anthony Edwards makes a cameo tonight.. will George Clooney be appearing on the show... we ask the always beautiful, always gracious Angela Bassett Scott Wolf (memba him) party of 5 hottie... well he's got big news... and he's breaking it on the show tonight and lastly... where in the world is Gavin Degraw???? we play that game too... Make sure to check us out tonight!!! Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for November 12, 2008 November 12, 2008 Tonight on the Billy Bush Show What a show what a show what a show Tonight we have Christina Milian.. She dated Nick Cannon before Mariah Carey married him.. does she harbor any ill will? She is now in a movie with Matthew McCounaghy.. Did they smooch Part 2 of Seal airs tonight.. how did Heidi Klum tell him she was pregnant with another man's child? Bravo's Top Chef is returning tonight. Padma Lakshmi, the host joins the Billy Bush Show.. She's 5'9 gorgeous.. and used to be married to a man 7 years younger than her father...wow Plus all your hot topics and entertainment news... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for November 11, 2008 November 11, 2008 Happy Veterans Day.. Make sure you thank a vet today!!!! On tonights show.. SEAL is live in studio. He talks politics, the fate of the country, his new CD.. and his complete obscure wife... Heidi Klum.. Was it love at first site???? Hugh Hefner joins Billy for a sit down interview... Did Holly Madison (whom we talked to last week) break his heart? How about the new 19 yr old twins? What's that all about? Condoleezza Rice tells Access Hollywood what her dream job is... we have that here for you.. The latest voted off the biggest loser will join us.. Billy wants to know one thing only.. how has it improved the sex life... Its all on tonight on the Billy Bush Show.. Woo hoo Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for November 7, 2008 November 7, 2008 Hola Mi Gente! Tonight on the show is the very adorable David Archuleta. Did you know he was part Hondurian? He talks life love girls and his new album dropping on Part 2 of our Holly Madison interview.. This girl does not stop talking... she dishes on Kendra (one of the other girls next door) tonight Penn Jillette is with Billy tonight.. they talk onesies... Do you know what that is.... I hope you all have a very safe and fantabulous weekend m:) Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for November 6, 2008 November 6, 2008 Tonight on the BBS. (Billy Bush Show for those of you who don't like acronym's) The really beautiful Holly Madison... Why she really left Hugh.. Babies? Sex? It's all in there Tina Fey joins us and discusses the Fey Effect on the Presidential Campaign as well as the paparazzi effect on her Gavin DeGraw calls in and we play our weekly segment of where in the world is Gavin DeGraw. Hint- Think Bacon.... Plus all the music and celebrity news you can stuff your heads with... Its all on the show.. tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for November 5, 2008 November 5, 2008 OOOOOOOOH What a night... Regardless of your political opinions, last night was truly a historic night for the United States of America, and the celebs are coming out in drones to talk about it with us. We have Usher on with us immediately after Obama is announced as the new President. Diddy weighs in on how he helped the campaigning with his ever popular Vote or Die Message Maria Menounos was live in Chicago last night and she gives us a play by play of how it all went down Ricky Gervais, the original star of the hit "The Office" weighs in on how the Brit's feel about this election and the difference between people from the UK and the USA Last but certainly not least.. the very loose lipped Penn Jillette chimes in with his own political views.. you will be very surprised on how he voted... you may have never even heard of his party before... Its all on the Billy Bush Show TONIGHT Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for November 4, 2008 November 4, 2008 Happy Voting Day! We voted.. did you? On the show tonight- Joan Rivers takes us to the polls with her.... Pink reveals her craziest Thanksgiving EVER.. Blood, stitches, a kitchen on fire, and mashed potatoes in her father in law's hair.... Jesse McCartney plays his hit song leaving for us in studio Dane Cook stops by to try and ease the political tension with some comedy... And Alanis Morisette rounds out the evening with and amazing acoustic performance... Its all on here tonight :) Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for November 3, 2008 November 3, 2008 Eureka... We struck gold tonight on the Billy Bush Show!!!! We have Mrs. Sarah Palin will be on the Billy Bush Show TONIGHT... They talk Tina Fey, John McCain, the campaign, her love for her husband, her family and who is her favorite actor right now... Lance Bass joins the Billy Bush Show. He talks about Dancing with the Stars and whether or not there is jealousy on the set amongst the ladies... Cher is with us and talks about being a cougar... and finally Frank Caliendo from Frank TV.. He impersonates Bill Clinton, George Bush, and everyone in between... It's all on the Billy Bush Show tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 31, 2008 October 31, 2008 BOO!!!!! Happy Halloween from The Billy Bush Show Do you believe in life after love.....Cher certainly does.. she talks life, love, and missed opportunity with Billy in studio tonight Fall Out Boy Rocker Pete Wentz joins us in Studio...eyeliner and all.. when is Ashley gonna pop.. is he excited for fatherhood? What does he think about Tony Romo? Lance Bass pops on for a hot minute to tell Billy what he's going to be for Halloween And former American Idol contestant Kelly Pickler joins to the show. She talks politics with us- we know what you're thinking... Oh geez another silly celeb talks blah blah blah... On the contrary.... she is one of the most articulate people we have heard from... Its all on the show- Tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 30, 2008 October 30, 2008 Its the pre-party... to Halloween tonight on the Billy Bush Show... What is the hands down best costume of the year.. Well for many its gonna be Sara Palin.. and we've got Tina Fey on the show tonight talking all about Palin, their likeness, and her Emmy Award winning show 30 Rock Martha Stewart is on the show.. she gives us fun/healthy ways to make Halloween Treats and we wonder.. does she answer her door for trick or treaters???? We ask her tonight... Matt Lauer defends his castle against Trick or Treaters by pulling up his drawbridge and not letting anyone cross his moat (just kidding he loves trick or treaters) he talks to Billy about what his kids will be on the show tonight And Pink is in studio with us again.. whats her favorite Halloween costume from years back? And what will he be tomorrow night.. find out tonight on the Billy Bush Show xo Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 29, 2008 October 29, 2008 SO WHAT!!!!!! We are rock stars tonight on the Billy Bush Show The Fabulous Alecia Moore joins us in studio... that's right PINK hangs with us tonight. We skip the wine and candles and get right to it with her...Her break -up here Jason Mraz the super sexy crooner is joining us.. whats with the pic of him in a speedo... we ask him all about it... The adorable Cloris Leachman sache'd off the DWTS stage last night.. we get her reaction tonight about leaving the show And finally- Dr. Drew Pinsky joins us live in studio.. Find out if he thinks Lindsay Lohan is on a fast track to full recovery or treading on a potential relapse... It's all on the show tonight :) Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 28, 2008 October 28, 2008 WOW WOW WOW We have an amazing show for you tonight!!!!!!!! JULIA ROBERTS... nuff said... Actually its her birthday today and we tracked her down to sing to her.. THE PRETTY WOMAN HERSELF talks to us tonight The ever funny and gracious Gavin DeGraw calls into the show.. What is he doing for Halloween and where in the world is he going next? The super cute Dustin Milligan who plays both Shanae Grimes and Anna Lynn McCord's love interest calls in and dishes from the set of 90210... Do the girls eat? AND he knows a lot about Cougars... David Foster.. Music producer extraordinary joins the show.. hes worked with the biggest in the business.. we ask him about the rumors going around about some of the top stars... and finally- Access Hollywood's Tony Potts joins us and continues to bring us the latest news live from Chicago re: the Hudson Tragedy. Its all here tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 27, 2008 October 27, 2008 Happy Monday Bushmen! Tonight on the show... The sad news of Jennifer Hudson's slain family has rocked the nation. Access Hollywood's Tony Potts is on the scene in Chicago and will be delivering us all the breaking news. Say a prayer for them out there Bill O'Reilly gets attacked every time he goes on the view.. yet he continues to grace their show.. His thoughts on the ladies, the campaigns, and the wardrobes are heard tonight AND the former BUSH frontman Gavin Rossdale graces us with his presence (sigh) "dont let the days go by... glycerine" All that and much more.. TONIGHT Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 24, 2008 October 24, 2008 TGIF What a show we have for you tonight..... Matt Lauer get surprised by Tom Cruise at his roast.. you remember that monumental moment between them. I know you do... Hillary Swank sits down with Billy Bush and they have an emotional heart to heart Gavin DeGraw joins us for his weekly segment.. and a little teasing from myself and Billy..Do his parents have a plan up there sleeves regarding Gavin's love life? Michael Chicklis.. did you see him singing Karaoke this am on Live with Regis and Kelly???? We play it back for him and he is truly embarrassed its all in good fun CHICKY.... PLUS HSM 3 is out tonight.. we've got Monique Coleman who stars as Taylor McKessie in the SUPER HOT flick on with us too... It's all on right here tonight... woo hoo! Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 23, 2008 October 23, 2008 Happy Thursday on the Billy Bush Show! Tonight on the Show.... The Domestic Diva, herself, Martha Stewart graces us with her presence. Her and Billy go AT IT on politics. Very fun stuff folks... NBC Today Show Co-Host Matt Lauer joins the show tonight. He is getting roasted tomorrow and we talk about his insecurites tonight And the newest crowned American Idol David Cook chats it up with Billy about his new single... his love life.. and what fame has done for him... Woohoo Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 20, 2008 October 20, 2008 Its just another Manic Monday on the BBS... Jason Priestley the original TV heartthrob of 90210 checks in with us. He's returning to the area code he made famous.. what does he have to say about all the skinny girls on set nowadays.. he explains how hes gonna fix the situation 17 million people tuned in to watch Sara Palin on SNL on Saturday night. In case you missed it we highlight the best parts for you.. AND talk to the mastermind behind it all.. Lorne Michaels Plus we have the newest Bond girl live in studio.. the first EVER that isnt a sexual conquest for Bond.. pretty interesting stuff It's all on the Billy Bush Show tonight... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 17, 2008 October 17, 2008 First.. thank you all for the well wishes :) Tonight on the show.. Its a freaky Friday and we have a lot of fun with sound... McCain and Obama went at it last night at the Albert E Smith fundraiser in NYC... Larry King Live carried their 2 speeches and they both brought the house down... Its campaign comedy on the Billy Bush Show We go inside the courtroom at the Britney Spears Drivers License Trial... Ryan and Trista Sutter (from ABC's the Bachelor) will join us. They were just featured on the cover of People and are expecting another child And Gavin DeGraw calls in from on the road... The show is packed with laughs tonight... Make sure to tune in Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 16, 2008 October 16, 2008 I know you are all counting down the hours until you can send me birthday wishes... ha ha On the show tonight- The beautiful and talented Jenny McCarthy reacts to some scathing comments made by Dennis Leary about autism... Debra Messing of the Starter Wife joins Billy they talk marriage and pre-nups Screen Legend Tony Curtis dishes the details of his steamy night with Marilyn Monroe Thindy Brady.. remember her? Well Susan Olsen is all growed up.. She joins the show too... Have a great night :) Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 15, 2008 October 15, 2008 Its a hump day on the Billy Bush Show and we're doing it with a bang... Madonna and Guy Ritchie...its confirmed are getting a divorce and we have in our back pocket.. Carlos Leon.. Madonna's former lover and baby daddy to her daughter Lourdes.. He reacts to the news and also gives us some insight into how they parent their children... A top divorce/family attorney from London talks about what the settlement structure between Guy and Madonna could look like. Jamie Lynn Siegler will be on with us. She struggled with an eating disorder for years. She weighs in (ha ha) on the current trend of hollywood's hallowed bodies... Tomorrow on the show... Screen Legend Tony Curtis From the Starter Wife...Debra Messing and many many more... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 14, 2008 October 14, 2008 Happy Tuesday on the Billy Bush Show! Tonight... Marsha Marsha Marsha!!! Maureen McCormick joins the Billy Bush Show. The girl who played Marsha Brady was far from innocent back in the day.. Its Sex, Drugs, alcohol, and... Michael Jackson????? Maureen McCormick is on with us tonight Wilmer Valderrama.. former lover of Lindsay Lohan will be on with us tonight.. We go there with him.. he talks with Lindsay and Sam... regularly... he shares his thoughts on them with us And Last night Billy covered the premiere of Filth and Wisdom directed by Madonna... We talk to Madonna on the red carpet...Brooke Shields on how her and Madonna met.. AND the new Mrs. Howard Stern gives Billy intimate details on her wedding to the self proclaimed king of all media... Plus we've got a loser on.. The Biggest Loser that is.. Ed- the recently eliminated contestant from NBC's the Biggest Loser... he lost 90 pounds and cant wait to get into bed with his wife.. his inspirational story is with us tonight... Make sure to tune in Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 13, 2008 October 13, 2008 Happy Monday Bushyites! By the way, the celebrity newsman himself turns 37 today.. send him birthday wishes at billy@billybushow.com (mine is on friday.. and I better get birthday wishes too!!!) Moving on.. It's also Columbus Day... and for that we are.. doing nothing.. 1492 was a long time ago.. The Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria will always have a special place in our heart.. but they arent a big celebrity draw... so we axed them from the show tonight... What we do have is bad boy turned good- Super Sexy Christian Slater from NBC's My Own Worst Enemy that debuts tonight will be on the show.. He talks life, love, and playing 2 characters at once.. does that mean double the pay? The lovely Natasha Bedingfield joins the Bushy... She has developed a new game for Wii.. that will have you dancing the night away and it is in stores tomorrow.. Also, she dishes on how the beau proposed.. was he down on bended knee? (Insert sappy Boyz II Men song) And last but certainly now least... The Fonz himself (Ayyyy).. What has he been up to lately? Wouldn't you like to know.. He's gonna tell us all about it tonight... Plus all your favorite music, fun with sound.. Peter Cook..gets baked by Bab's... and celebrity news how only we can bring it to you... we cut right through the gossip... Its all here tonight.. TUNE IN Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 10, 2008 October 10, 2008 Woo Hoo TGIF.. we close out the week with a bang... Jeremy Piven star of Enterouge and also appearring in RockNrolla will be with us... Bruno Tinioli has seen Len Goodman of Dancing with the Stars naked.. Does Len get a "10"? Gavin DeGraw has been in Love with a Girl... who does he prefer to date now... Robin Thicke started dating his girlfriend when he was 14 yrs.. has he ever been with anyone else? Billy asks him when he is in studio... Joy Behar weighs in with her politics... It is jam packed.... make sure you tune.. this is cant miss radio Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 9, 2008 October 9, 2008 Gerard Butler.. super hotty that is in Guy Ritchies new movie RockNRolla is on the show Ben Silverman of NBC talks about must see TV and the shows you should be watching out for... Super Nanny Jo Frost gives Billy a B* slap for a rule he is letting slip with his youngest girl. The super talented Oscar recipient Anna Paquin from HBO's True Blood hangs with us and many many more... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 8, 2008 October 8, 2008 Happy Hump day... In case you missed the show last night (sorry I didn't write)... Bruno Tinioli from Dancing with the Stars discussed Misty May's injury.... Gavin DeGraw calls in from the road and we play our weekly game of Where in the World is Gavin DeGraw And the inspirational story of the latest contestant booted off the hit show the Biggest Loser Now for tonight... The British are coming, the British are coming... The super funny Brit Sharon Osbourne joins us in studio... what does she think about Madonna and her politics??// Mel B... of the Spice Girls reviews last nights (non vote off) at Dancing with the Stars... and the beautiful Kate Walsh of ABC's Private Practice checks in with Billy... episode 2 of the season is on tonight and the Dr. dishes about the show... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 6, 2008 October 6, 2008 Happy Monday!!!! Its a beautiful day and we have some very beautiful guests on the show tonight.. actually they are all gorgeous... First up.. Access Hollywood talks to Angelina Jolie, but you hear it on the Billy Bush Show first. She talks about her babies and family and it is soooo cute. Then Brooke Burke and Rocco DiSpirito heat things up when they discuss Dancing with the Stars.. did someone have to go to the hospital this weekend? is Rocco living up to his nickname "ITALIAN STALLION" they address with us. Finally Alyssa Milano (you know from Who's the Boss, Charmed, and a million other shows) well the beauty is now designing and its not one of those overpriced celebrity lines.. its really practical and really cool... she shares with Billy. Billy also reveals a past love of Alyssa's that many people do not know about... its all on the show tonight... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 3, 2008 October 3, 2008 We are rockin and rollin tonight... Joy Behar, in a radio exclusive, checks in and voices her opinion on the VP debates that happened last night...Her and Elisabeth Hasselback go head to head daily on the View... she takes Billy on tonight. This is THE ONLY PLACE that you will hear her talk about her opinions... Jeremy Piven, Emmy Winning Star of Entourage dials in to chat about this weekends show.. It involves, Ari, shrooms, the desert and a gay pool party..... Rocco DiSpirito of cooking fame... and Dancing with the Stars contestant..tells Billy what he loves in a woman... could it be that she can cook???? Maybe, Maybe not The beautiful Anna Paquin of HBO's True Blood (my new fav show...soooo good) calls in and tells Billy all about the sexiness that the show is...It is so hot you have no idea... Plus other super stars and all your favorite music....Have a great weekend Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 2, 2008 October 2, 2008 Tonight its hot hot hot on the Billy Bush Show. If you remember, last night Lisa Rinna and Mel B weighed in on the cut of Kim Kardashian on Dancing With The Stars.. Tonight- Kim K herself dishes with Billy on her dancing, her personality, and her man Reggie Bush... Have you been watching America's Got Talent? Neal Boyd the doughboy like insurance salesman won it all last night with his incredible opera singing. He now has 1 million dollars and a show on the Vegas strip.. he calls in to sing and celebrate with Billy. Jenny McCarthy gets down and dirty with Billy- she dishes on her sex life with Jim Carey. The Super Nanny, Jo Frost, smacks Billy around when he tells her what he still lets his 4 yr old do. and phew lastly.. My unofficial celebrity boyfriend (jk) Gavin DeGraw calls in and we play like we always do.. where in the world is Gavin DeGraww?? Oh and we play music too... Tune in tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for October 1, 2008 October 1, 2008 Its Hump day on the Billy Bush Show Tonight on the show we have a Billy Bush Show Radio exclusive. Arthur Newman, brother of the recently deceased Paul Newman, gives his first interview exclusively to Billy. It is a tear jerker.. Grab the Kleanex Then... The claws come out.... Lisa Rinna, former Dancing With The Stars contestant, dishes on why she thought Kim Kardashian got booted (get it- booty) off the show Mel B talks about the booted star as well and dishes on some behind the scene romances... The distinctive Robin Thicke joins us in studio as well. He has a new single "Magic" and it is amazing. Plus we have the latest in entertainment news and all your favorite music... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for September 30, 2008 September 30, 2008 Happy Tuesday! On tonights show... Jenny McCarthy calls in to talk about her new book "Mother Warriors". She shares insight on what she has learned about Autism and what you can do to educate yourself. Piers Morgan, judge of America's Got Talent joins the show and tells Billy why there is always a Brit judging on American TV And the super hot Justin Bruening from NBC'd Knight Rider.. He was Britney Spears pool boy.. scandalous... we'll tell you all about it... Tomorrow... we have a radio exclusive.. Paul Newmans brother opens up only to Billy. You will hear the heartfelt right here.... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for September 29, 2008 September 29, 2008 Happy Monday is not so happy with the passing of the film, but more importantly, humanitarian legend. Tonight we remember Paul Newman. Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Jury Duty September 26, 2008 America is great and we all have to be willing to serve....better to be willing when you're actually being forced. Jury duty...that civic responsibility so mundane in its execution but essential to the liberties our forefathers and mothers asked for and received back in 1700's. A jury of our peers to decide our fate...what an awesome system. Today, as my professional life gets cover from Tony Potts (filling in on both Access and The Billy Bush Show on radio), I am a contributing American citizen..granted I am staring at the wall wondering if a particular line is a crack in the paint or a pencil tracing. Now...please don't call my name! Haha Posted by Billy Bush at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for September 24, 2008 September 24, 2008 Tonight on the show: Jerry Springer, host of America's Got Talent, checks in with Billy. He gives a rundown of who he thinks will make it to the end... Super Stunt Man David Blaine calls in just before he comes down from being hung upside down for over 60 hours... Jerry O'Connell, star of the new Fox series "Do Not Disturb" checks in with Billy to talk about his wife's pregnancy and those rumors that they are naming one of their girls Dolly after Dolly Parton.... Plus- Michael Lohan sounds off (again!!! does this guy ever know when to stop) about his daughter Lindsay and Gal Pal Samantha Ronson. It's on tonight and it's on your radio.... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for September 23, 2008 September 23, 2008 Tonight on the Billy Bush Show: Notorious Bad Girl Shannen Doherty checks in with Billy. Is she really only doing 4 episodes of the new 90210? Her co-stars on the show are stirring the pot by appearing grotesquely thin.. what does Shannen think about girls in Hollywood and body image? Mel B from the Spice Girls and Access Hollywood Correspondent for Dancing with the Stars chats to Billy about her early favorites and which contestants she can do without. PLUS- Together they lost over 116 pounds on the Biggest Loser. The inspirational story about hope and looking toward a long future ahead of them. The couple voted off the show speaks to Billy. And in usual Billy style, he asks them how much their lovemaking has improved since the drop in weight. We have also have all the latest breaking entertainment news and your favorite music.... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for September 22, 2008 September 22, 2008 We have a great show for you tonight as we are Backstage at the Emmys.. You'll hear from all the winners... Tina Fey!!!! Alec Baldwin!!!! Don Rickles!!!! Jeremy Piven!!!! Jeff Probst!!!! Glenn Close!!!! Laura Linney!!!! and many many more. Billy was there to capture all of the action and you will be able to hear it right here tonight.. Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for September 17, 2008 September 17, 2008 Things have been really hectic around here so let me fill you in... On the show yesteday: She was recently shocked by the accusations of fraud made against her boyfriend. He was subsequently arrested and has pled guilty on all 14 counts. She has a new movie out though and always the pro, she has not let the scandal affect her work. Anne Hathaway joined the show The Beautiful Natasha Bedingfield checked in to tell her about her newest undertaking- a WII game developed especially for the ladies... And super hunk Grant Show came in studio... You know him as the swinging Pilot in the CBS show Swingtown.. He adds another role to his belt and and he tells Billy about it in studio. If you missed any of these interviews they are alive and well on Billybushshow.com Now Tonight... We're Bringing Sexy Back (yah) Thats right we have a radio exclusive with Justin Timberlake... he talks Oscars, Ellen, and a cause that is very close to his heart.... Kate Hudson is on the show.. Billy asks her the question we all want to know.. what does she think of Lance getting back into pro cyclying Jerry Springer is on the show-- After 18 years.. he wants an Emmy- he's campaigning for one.. will he succeed? And Finally- Sean Hannity of Fox News scored the second interview ever with the VP Candidate Sarah Palin... did he go easy on her? His thoughts on her and what you can expect out of her... Make sure to tune in tonight... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for September 15, 2008 September 15, 2008 Happy Monday! This week is shaping up to be one of our best weeks guest wise yet. WOO HOO! On Tonights Show- Breakout star of Indiana Jones and the Transformers, Shia LeBouf joins the Billy Bush Show. What happened with the accident? How is he doing? And most importantly- whats up with his love life.... The beautiful and talented "Very Green" actress Julianne Moore checks in with us tonight. What does she do to keep a green lifestyle and tricks of the trade to keep your kids satisfied without giving them the junk food they crave. Are you a 90210 fan? Jessica Stroupe, who plays Silver on the new hit show, joins Billy and discusses how her character is quite the villain and rebel of the cast. Of course we play all your favorite music too and give you the latest in entertainment news. Make sure to listen... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for September 11, 2008 September 11, 2008 On tonights show, Billy remembers 9/11 and the tragedy that struck 7 years ago. But rather than dwell on past we look forward to hope. On tonights show- the ever beautiful and ridiculously funny Brooke Burns joins Billy. Her new show Wipe Out premieres tonight on Fox. Who saw Enterouge this past weekend? Jeremy Pivens who plays Ari Gold a fast talking agent joins Billy tonight. We have your See It Skip it poll with Movie Mantz. Katrina Szish from In Style Magazine was at the Justin Timberlake Fashion Show for "William Rast". She dishes on the collections must haves. And as always, your favorite music and entertainment news straight from the source. Check out the Billy Bush Show Tonight... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for September 5, 2008 September 5, 2008 What a way to kick off the weekend... Tonight at 8PM Stand Up to Cancer will air live on all major TV networks. Donations are encouraged. That being said, celebrities want to get in on the action so LA Reid, musical super star, put together one of the biggest collaborations of all time to help the cause. We talk to LA Reid tonight. Beautiful Rihanna calls in to us to discuss why she sang on LA's history making song. Also on the show... Get Closer... Its Ne-Yo. You will never guess who he is collaborating with next... The MTV VMA's are SUNDAY NIGHT..The host this year, Russell Brand, tells Billy what to expect at the show And just because he is ridiculously hot, we check in with Gerard Butler once again Have a great and safe weekend Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for September 4, 2008 September 4, 2008 What a show we have tonight... Ladies are sooo lucky tonight... It's Michelle's Meat Market On tap - NO ONE was bigger back in the day than New Kids on the Block. They are back with a vengeance and totally hot. The boys Hang Tough with Billy tonight... Super Hot Brian Austin Green checks in- Is he considering making an appearance on 90210.. he dishes with Billy Another Hottie Gerard Butler calls in from the Toronto Film Festival. He is there promoting his new Guy Ritchie film "Rock n Rolla" Plus, Gavin DeGraw and Billy go at it. Billy was supposed to be in his video... what happened to the shoot? Did Billy get it done. Make sure you tune in tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for September 3, 2008 September 3, 2008 Now that summer is over, I can no longer vacation on these updates... Tonight on the Billy Bush show- The beautiful Kelly Ripa sits down with billy and she is doing it for a cause. She also has a big bone to pick with Billy. Howie Mandel just gave away 1 million dollars on deal or no deal... Whats next for the chrome domed superstud? Finally, Cody Linley, youngest contestant in DWTS history and star in Hannah Montana dishes with billy about high school, girls and all things Miley * Lilly Allen gets into a fight with Elton John and the Billy Bush show is the only place you will get to hear it... Its all happening here... Tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for August 21, 2008 August 21, 2008 Yes, I know... It has been a long time...For that I apologize. We have been in "Booking Mode" and we really have struck GOLD tonight... On the show tonight- Olympic Gold Medalist: Kerry Walsh- 1/2 of the USA Womens Volleyball team that conquered last night. Pink (the artist) she dishes to us about her new song "So What" and you get to hear it right here on the show. Is it really about her ex husband? Find out her inspiration tonight... Jenny Finch the Super Beautiful Team USA Pitcher for Womens Softball. She talks about her crushing loss to Japan, and what they did in protest to the IOC's decision to cancel softball in future games. We've also got Al Roker. Billy and Al go way back, but that doesn't stop Al from beating up on Billy live from Beijing. Its all on the Billy Bush Show tonight along with your favorite songs and all the celebrity NEWS not GOSSIP that you can handle... Clue for tomorrow- We are throwing a "HOUSE PARTY" Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Baby That Says It All To Bushy August 13, 2008 Last night, while shooting our show, a woman was standing in the crowd, holding this baby. I took a picture. Many others did too... this baby represents the youth of this country... steeped in history but young in capitalism and open society. There is innocence to all the people in China. They are very gracious and optimistic, patient and hopeful. That baby says it all to me. I've tried to explain it. I am currently waiting for Phelps at the side door to the "Water Cube"... an interview is my quest. The great thing about covering the Olympics, if you want to do it right, is you have to be willing to run, sweat, linger by a door, hustle and bump. We're doing that and you're all watching. Thanks. Posted by Billy Bush at 12:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Inside The Men's Gymnastics Team Finals August 12, 2008 I am inside and watching the Mens' gymnastics finals and the U.S. team, massively the underdog, is doing well. We're in the middle of rotation #4 out of 6; the U.S. Team is 2nd. China just passed them. Our guys are performing nearly flawlessly. The Chinese are loud and proud. This guy next to me (see photo) is so loud my eardrum nearly popped a minute ago. "China! China!"... That's how it goes... not very complex, but solid enough. China is expected to win. Maybe I'll have a "Zelig" moment and run out there on the mat mid Chinese routine... to sacrifice for country... maybe not. These guys all have the same bodies. It's amazing. Stout, buff, compact. Gluteus muscles that could crack walnuts. Sorry... stream of conscience here. Go USA!! UPDATE: (post-competition) The U.S. men winning bronze in Gymnastics is a huge accomplishment especially given that Paul Hamm and brother, Morgan, both had to drop out due to injury. The dominant Chinese men's team showed a lot of class in victory. When their names were called to mount the podium they first shook all the Japanese and American medalists' hands. That was my favorite moment. It's the Olympics and everyone's watching here and abroad. Awesome!! Posted by Billy Bush at 12:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Let The Games Begin!! August 8, 2008 We are two hours early for the opening ceremony here in Beijing. Rob Silverstein, our Executive Producer, and I are sweating like two Greco-Roman wrestlers in a sauna. That said, our shirts are off and faces are painted....I kid. The "Bird's Nest" is massive in size. The flags of the 205 countries participating in the Beijing games hang breezelessly limp but proud. The idea that some 160,000 some odd people will in some capacity fill this stadium at the peak is almost unthinkable. Two young Chinese girls came running up to me and said the darndest thing, "Are you from Access Hollywood?" They are half-Chinese and from Boston. The world has traveled far. The Chinese sit braced for a review of their colossal effort. Will there be subtle activism as the athletes enter...you'll know before I will as the NBC broadcast will capture it. Speaking of NBC, "Ebersol's Army" as I call this almost 3,000-person team of NBC employees under the leadership of NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol, has done an amazing job. Chairman Dick, in his iconic status, is like Chairman Mao, and these games will no doubt be a big part of his legacy. It's an honor to be part of this. When the USA enters the stadium, Lopez Lomong carrying the Flag, tears will fill my eyes as I feel how great we are. It's an exciting time. My only regret is that my sweet wife Sydney couldn't be here to take it all in with me. A report to come when all is done. Posted by Billy Bush at 12:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Live From The Olympic Opening Ceremonies August 8, 2008 The opening of the opening ceremony is nothing short of spectacular. The technological prowess is mindnumbing. Over an hour in, there was a message of global warming..."Ice caps are melting" etc...the odd thing is nowhere is pollution worse than right here in Beijing it seems. The sky above me every day is daunting. Sorry, its the truth. It had to be said, now moving on. 2:40 minutes into the ceremony, a USA athelete was escorted out of the building. Maybe he had to go to the bathroom. He returned about 25 mins later. The parade of nations is seemingly endless. Tennis great Roger Federer marched the Swiss flag into the stadium...when they arrived to their standing area, Roger got mobbed by people, mostly US atheletes. He posed for some photos and then slinked away into the crowd of athetes. He was very gracious and the MOST mobbed. Yao Ming enters the stadium and he is HUGE. He walks a full 50 yards in front of everyone else on the Chinese team. He is a hero to these people, all screaming around me, very loudly. He's their hero. What an exciting moment for his mama. And by the way, Federer has been captured again. speeches and promises to keep it clean have been made. The torch gets passed within the stadium but the last guy to run...well, its spectacular. Simply spectacular. Beijing has done it! They did it to perfection. Gotta hand it to em. Posted by Billy Bush at 12:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Beijing Bushy Is On The Ground August 3, 2008 Beijing Bushy is on the ground at the Olympic games. We shot all day today around this massive city of 17.4 million people. First, we went to the "dirt market," which is now tiled, and haggled with vendors selling their wares. That may sound aggressive, but truly, they will sell their items as high as you'll allow. For example, I bought an eyeball watch to hang around my neck for 60 RMB - or, about 8 bucks. It was originally offered at 450 RMB. I quickly became a force with which to be reckoned. The laughs were plenty. We then went to the Summer Palace, built in 1750 as a leisure home for emperors and the like. A man-made lake, with a beautiful landscape, Chinese families strolled around, floated around in paddle boats... it was peaceful... and intensely humid. Next, we hit the "night market," where street vendors hawk exotic meats, innards, bugs etc... on sticks. I tasted sheep's testicles. Anything for the camera, I guess. The vendors bark out their "delicacies" with gusto. One of our producers, weak of stomach, ran across the street and up-chucked. It was a character building experience. Our Access team of 16 is fun, creative and ready for adventure. The people in China are sweet, kind and helpful. There is no request too much... they want to show the world their home and they are proud. Tomorrow.... The Great Wall of China, where I will host Access Hollywood. Wow, never thought I'd say that. Posted by Billy Bush at 10:44 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Earthquake Shakes up Los Angeles July 30, 2008 The earthquake yesterday was scary. For a moment I felt a tremor of fear like in the aftermath of 9-11....an awful feeling like you don't know what's next. We were taping the nightly Access show out on the balcony at KNBC-LA. Many guys were under an overhang, I was out further....I couldn't help but think, "what if this balcony gave way?". Nancy O'Dell texted her nanny and asked that shelves be cleared in her baby's room, due to aftershocks. Cute...protective. I got a message from my wife an hour later: "Thanks for checking to see if I'm ok!!". Whoops....horrible truth is, I'm a bigger sissy than her. Posted by Billy Bush at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for July 28, 2008 July 28, 2008 Tonights Guests... Shia LeBouf was in a 2am car crash this weekend Billy talks to one of the first people on the scene of the accident. Speaking of accidents..was Lindsay Lohan hit by a passing motorcycle this weekend while out in NYC? Billy talks to Michael Lohan tonight to get to the bottom of the internet rumors. Bill Pullman- star of the Independent Movie Bottleshock about Napa Valley Wines calls in from Napa where he is tasting the fruit of the land. And major Emmy news- The Producer of the Emmy's, Ken Eurlich calls in to tell Billy the new format of the golden show. Plus Movie Mantz gives us a Batman Dark Knight record breakdown and a first hand account of what Comic Con in San Diego was all about. Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Reporting For My Civic Duty July 26, 2008 America is great and we all have to be willing to serve....better to be willing when you're actually being forced. Jury duty...that civic responsibility so mundane in its execution, but essential to the liberties our forefathers and mothers asked for and received back in the 1700s. A jury of our peers to decide our fate...what an awesome system. Today, as my professional life gets cover from Tony Potts (filling in on both Access and "The Billy Bush Show" on radio), I am a contributing American citizen...granted I am staring at the wall wondering if a particular line is a crack in the paint or a pencil tracing. Now...please don't call my name! Haha Posted by Billy Bush at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for July 24, 2008 July 24, 2008 On the Billy Bush Show Tonight: Kate Walsh calls in from the set of her show Private Practice- She talks love, life, her show, and how her hubby deals with all the love scenes. She also discusses the paparazzi shot that EVERYONE is talking about. Billy sat down with Pamela Anderson at her Malibu home- you hear it here exclusively tonight.. What does she REALLY think about Jessica Simpson...It's on the Billy Bush Show tonight. And Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine- They go out on tour starting tomorrow.. Whats the craziest thing a fan ever did to get his attention? Plus we ambush him only the way that Billy can... a surprise caller joins us.... If you missed last night we had on: Super Man Dean Cain (so hot) Bob Barker (so old) William Shatner (so funny) Alanis Morisette (so deep) If you missed any of those you can go to audio archives... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for July 22, 2008 July 22, 2008 It is a sad day in Hollywood. Legendary actress Estelle Getty passed away at 5:45 AM PST this morning. She was 84 years old. We here at the Billy Bush Show have put together a tribute to the funny lady most notably known as Sophie on the Golden Girls. It is a celebration of her life. Longtime cast mate Rue McClanahan (Blanch on the hit show) joins Billy to recollect as well. Have you seen the musical movie that made box office history- Mamma Mia? Rita Wilson, wife of Tom Hanks, brought the Broadway sensation alive as its Executive Producer. She talks about the movie and her husband Tom. He is filming Angels and Demons, the sequel to the Da Vinci code... She talks about his new hairdo with us AND breaks into song...You don't want to miss out. Also tonight (my personal favorite artist - She was my first concert at age 15) Alanis Morisette joins Billy in studio. She goes old school and performs One Hand In My Pocket. She also talks about her love, her pain, her darkness- It's pretty juicy. You will also hear her new smash hit Underneath. There is more Bushy Fans!!! Tom Bergeron, recently nominated for an Emmy joins Billy tonight to discuss his competition (Heidi Klum/Howie Mandel) who we also have had on (see archives) He tells Billy what he'll be wearing to the red carpet event, and how it feels to be at the top of his game. Its all on the Billy Bush Show tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for July 21, 2008 July 21, 2008 We here at the Billy Bush Show hope you had a fantastic weekend (we sure did) On the show tonight- Eva Longoria Parker calls in to discuss the recent announcement that Desperate Housewives will be finished after season 7. She also discusses the baby rumors. Is she preggers???? SHE TELLS BILLY EXCLUSIVELY tonight. Did you ever wonder what kind of girl Ryan Seacrest needs to be happy? His mama- Connie Seacrest dishes the dirt with us tonight. She talks about a time when Ryan wore "husky" clothing and is he really as busy as he claims..She stops by the studio to chat with us tonight.... Recent Emmy Nominated Chandra Wilson from Greys Anatomy calls into Billys Show. She talks about her nomination with us and weighs in on the Katherice Heigl controversy. Was she wrong to withdraw her name from contention.. hear it here first... And lastly, Barbara Walters publicly criticized professional Medium James Van Praag. We talk to James and ask him why he and Barbara who has used him in the past are in a spat. Plus lots of music and ALL the celebrity NEWS you can handle. That's all on the show tonight Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for July 18, 2008 July 18, 2008 TGIF whoo hoooooooo Todays note will be short and sweet... We continue coverage of the Emmy Nom's tonight (I mentioned yesterday I didnt have enough room in last nights show) On the show tonight- Regis Philbin calls in to tell Billy exactly where listeners need to go to try out for next season's Million Dollar Password game. Anjelica Houston....... Yes HER. Legendary Screen Actress joins Billy to discuss her Emmy nom and her on again off again relationship with Jack Nicholson.... John Hamm- Mad Men on AMC nominated for 16 Emmy Awards- Star of the AMC series joins Billy tonight Billy has exclusive reaction from Vanessa Williams re: The "N" word controversy... you do not want to miss the show tonight.... HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for July 17, 2008 July 17, 2008 My deepest apologies for not writing yesterday.... I was busy planning for the Emmys Nomination announcements so that I could bring as many nominees to you as the announcements come in... That being said- THE SHOW HAS TOO MANY GUESTS TONIGHT... we will be doing a 2 part Emmy show (tonight and tomorrow) On the show with Billy tonight....IT IS EMMY MANIA Entertainment Weekly Columnist David Karger- he breaks down the Emmy snubs, surprises, and heavy contenders Moving on... Heidi Klum is reacting to her Emmy nomination with Billy tonight (she is very happy). She also discusses Project Runway with Billy, and how she is handling the move from Bravo to the Lifetime Network (her response is phenomenal) Also nominated in the same category as Heidi (Best Reality Show Host) is Deal or No Deal's Howie Mandel. Howie calls in to the Billy Bush show and we put the beauty up against the baldy.... Billy talks to Emmy nominated America Ferrara tonight... We talk to the latter about her 4th nomination and how she feels about Katherine Heigl's decision not to submit her name for an Emmy. HOUSE!!!! My favorite TV show- Hugh Laurie star of the hit drama is nominated for Lead Actor in a Drama series... He calls in to the BBS to talk to Billy about it..... And lastly (remember part 2 is tomorrow) Charlie Sheen's mom on the hit comedy Two and a Half Men- Holland Taylor reacts to HER Emmy nom. She talks Charlie Sheen, and you DO NOT want to miss out on her conversation with Billy about being 63 and in a bikini (hysterical) Tomorrow... IS HUGE... make sure to tune in (i don't want to give it away) Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for July 15, 2008 July 15, 2008 The Billy Bush Show is jam packed yet again tonight. Sienna Miller- Was spotted topless with Balthazar Getty a married father of 4.. We talk to Piers Morgan, host of America's Got Talent. He knows Sienna and he weighs in. He also previews tonight's America's Got Talent which airs at 9pm tonight on NBC. Speaking of America's got Talent- one of the performers sings Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up". Josh happens to be singing God Bless America tonight at the All-Star Game and low and behold.. Billy speaks with him tonight... HMMM What else- We had the UBER-Ridiculously super good-looking Benjamin Bratt in studio yesterday. Part 2 of his interview with Billy airs tonight and ladies- he will make you cry- Fellas pay attention this is how you treat a woman. Super Beautiful Heidi Klum checks in to the Billy Bush Show tonight. Project Runway is not being promoted by Bravo sparking rumors that the network is trying to kill all buzz about the show before it moves over to lifetime...Is it true? What does Heidi have to say about this.. she tells the Bushy tonight. THERE IS MORE PEOPLE!!!!! Young Hollywood is going crazy- Khloe Kardashian was sentenced yesterday to 30 days in jail after failing to complete community service etc after a DUI arrest. Bruce Jenner, Olympic medalist, and Khloe's stepfather weighs in on how Khloe is doing and whether or not this is a good thing. ALSO only Access Hollywood was allowed inside A-Rods super exclusive party last night.. Was Madonna there? What stars showed up? We take you inside the party. Its all on the Billy Bush Show tonight..... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for July 14, 2008 July 14, 2008 What a day what a day what a day..... Miss USA took a little spill last night while competing in the Miss Universe pageant.. What happened? Was it sabotage? Guess what- she tells Billy what went down from Vietnam.. Pretty cool right? Benjamin Bratt (so hot) is IN STUDIO with Billy tonight. He talks to us about his new show- The Cleaner.... Did i mention he is SO HOT...make sure you tune in... Peter Cook talks to Geraldo. What are his biggest regrets? What has he sworn off? You will hear it here first... Plus we have a reporter on location in Nice, France and- you will get the skinny on the new Jolie-Pitt twins. Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for July 11, 2008 July 11, 2008 I just love my job here at the Billy Bush Show... I'm going to the movies tonight and on the show with us are 2 stars that are going to help me decide which one to see.... Up first- Brendan Fraser- star in the new movie Journey to the Center of the Earth joins the Billy Bush Show tonight... the always gracious actor discusses this movie, The Mummy (release date- 8/1/08) and his role in G I Joe which releases next year....what a busy guy!!!! Hell Boy II is in theaters tonight as well... TV Producer extraordinaire, Seth MacFarlane (writer/director/creator/voice) on Family Guy recently signed a $100 million dollar contract.. He is also the voice of Johan Krauss in Hell Boy. Billy breaks down his whirlwind year with him tonight.... BROOKE HOGAN... the poor girl has been through so much this year- her mom dating a 19 yr old, her dad, a 34 yr old, and her brother is in jail.. How does one cope? Through faith and friends she explains to Billy tonight.. oh and by starring in her own reality show.... and could you believe it--- we were so jam packed yesterday that we never got a chance to air Dina and Ali Lohan...well have no fear my little chickadees.. they are on the show tonight with us.... click on billybushshow.com to stream live.... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for July 10, 2008 July 10, 2008 Its hot in here tonight (and I'm not talking the LA temperature) Christy Brinkley and her ex Peter Cook settled their bitter divorce out of court at 4am this morning. Billy talks to Christy's best friend, Jill Rappaport, about Christy, the courtroom battle, and Christy has a special message for Billy..... Ashley Tisdale- You know, she's in that little movie High School Musical- she joins Billy to chat about her upcoming projects.. and the nose job... Ali Lohan has a really catchy new single out right now- We talk to her AND proud Mama Dina on Billys show tonight- Dina is on the Beach-- does she wear bikinis- Yup Billy goes there with her. Someone who DID NOT wear a bikini recently however is Cindy Margolis. She took it off for the second time for Playboy and she is 42 yrs old... Shes in studio with Billy and talks about her life, love, her recent single status and who she wants to date... you'd be surprised at who it is. It was Landon Brown's (Bobby's son) prerogative to tell Billy that he and Bill Bellamy (Host of NBC's Last Comic Standing) had "Beef" when he was in studio with us on Monday.... You know the Bushy doesn't let things like this die... We call Bill and see what the real problem is... All this and so much more- Its on the Billy Bush Show tonight... If you dont get it in your area- got to billybushshow.com to listen online... Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Billy Bush Show for July 9, 2008 July 9, 2008 It's another jam packed day in the world of the Bush-Man!!!!!! Tonight on the show- There is so much fallout from the Barack Obama Piece that Access Hollywood did. The Billy Bush Show is the ONLY radio show that has "Access" (get it) to the actual interview. We break it down, analyze it, and then exploit some of its parts some more..... What does the Senator do to that annoys his kids? What do they do that get them in trouble.... Its on tonight. Here's a question for you... Do you think that at 41 you could be in contention for Olympic Gold? Dara Torres, US Olympic Swim Team member who is 41 is going for her 10th... WOW. She is in studio with us and talks about her age, her young child, and her struggle with bulimia- you do not want to miss this! AROD AROD AROD- He has been a newsmaker as of late (can you say Madonna?) Turns out he will be having a party at the 40/40 club in NYC the night before the All-Star Game- Can you guess who might be there................ YES MADONNA- Only the Billy Bush Show can confirm this with you- We talk to the party organizer tonight. BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE- Candy (yes this is her real name) Houlihan, the stripper that came out and spoke about A-Rod and his extracurricular activities- was not alone with A-Rod when they had ahem rounded the bases- We talk to her former boss at the hair salon she used to work at- He gives us all the gossip. Im not done yet folks- SARAH BAREILLES whose "Love Song" was a number one hit and went double platinum is in studio with us tonight. What is the meaning of the song.. we find out here. AND Finally (as if the above mentioned is not enough) Mark Consuelos, super hot husband of Kelly Rippa is on the show with us tonight. Rumors are rampant that Kelly wants a 4th child-- What does Mark want? We'll get to that tonight.... Oh and we play music too... Click here to listen live: Billybushshow.com Posted by Michelle Salvatore at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The First Month On Radio Of 'The Billy Bush Show' May 23, 2008 As I head off for the long weekend, having finished up my radio show for tonight's broadcast, I can't believe how far we've come. "The Billy Bush Show" is exactly what we promised to stations: a news breaking, celeb packed, opinionated, informative show with excellent music all the way through. As far as content, I've had over 60 guests in a month from Mariah to Madonna, Julia Roberts, Jack Nicholson, Trump, Eva, Sarah Jessica, on and on. Here's a recap of just last night (easiest to remember): "Idol" winner David Cook in studio... spoke about the moment he won, his brother's ordeal and the bracelets he wears for him, a little girl with leukemia and others, why he cried... really good. Denise Richards... refuting Charlie Sheen's attacks on her about an alleged email he says she sent him "asking him for his seed" (gross, but news handled gently). Eva Longoria Parker calling in from Malibu where she and Tony are meeting with inspectors at the new house they just bought. She says Tony wants babies now and so she's going with it (actively trying to get pregnant - big). Jennie Garth is a guest. Speaks for the first time publicly about joining the new CW cast of '90210'... resurrecting her old character Kelly Taylor... preparing for a steamier show where she'll have to get in shape for nude scenes (with a student? Probably... ). Morgan Freeman called in on cell phone while walking to the stage in Times Square. Tourists spotted him and attacked him. He said, "Call you back!!" as he took off running. He called right back hiding in an alleyway. I'm opening a blues club with him in Memphis on Sunday. We're doing it every night... laughing, taking it all with a grain of salt, having fun and pushing forward. I am blessed that so many at Access Hollywood have really helped so much. They know who they are. It's a killer one-two punch. The competition TV shows are trying to get their talent on radio shows of their own as a result. Funny... radio is not as easy as it seems. Trust me, I started in radio, it's harder cuz its mostly ad lib. Anyway, have a great weekend. To all those who have served, I pray for you on Sunday and thank you for the sacrifice. Posted by Billy Bush at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Live From Churchill Downs: Meet Big Brown May 2, 2008 I was just 3 feet away from the Jack Nicholson of horse racing. Maybe I should say the Emile Hirsch of racing as the aura is vast but the experience is not. "Big Brown" is as big a stud (Colt really) and a star as there is here in Louisville, Kentucky...after only 3 big races, he's favored to win the Kentucky Derby 3 to 1. Sam Flood, the NBC Sports producer running the show out here for the network took me back to the stables. Multi-million dollar training stables, one after the other, it was impressive. But around "Big Brown" was crime scene tape and major security which now makes him the Angelina Jolie of horse racing. I was star struck. The trainers let us in close enough to watch "Big Brown" walk in a slow circle around the stables...he had just gotten a bath and needed to air dry. Seriously. "Why don't they towel him off?", some ignorant bystander says (me). "He has to completely dry" is the answer. Like if you towel off your hair, its still damp. And Brown must not be at risk of catching a cold in his stable. Makes sense, I know. Anyway, it was a thrill to meet "UPS" as he's been nicknamed. (What can Brown do for you?). Big Star, no publicist. Posted by Billy Bush at 7:37 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Derek & Shannon Doing More Than 'Dancing?' April 29, 2008 I'm watching "Dancing With The Stars" and I'm sure of one thing...Derek Hough and Shannon Elizabeth are either intimately involved or totally consumed by the thought of intimacy. Her level of interest is not as assured as his. He cannot keep his hands off her...I remember him being the most touchy feely guy last year, but this year he seems like an adolescent boy discovering his hormones for the first time. He kind of reminds me of Jason Biggs' high school character who falls for Shannon in "American Pie". She flashed Biggs. The Hougher is raging. Cristian de la Fuente is the epitome of class and elegance. This has nothing to do with the Chilean Cabernet he sent me after a discussion on the radio about the strengths of Chilean men (wine not dancing). No, he's just a gentleman...then the package featuring his little princess Laura...the cutest little girl and so obviously the apple of his eye. I like that and as a dad of three girls, I know...I KNOW! Kristi Yamaguchi...the umbrella dance...wow!!! The most sensationally sexy, emotional dance I've seen this season. A home run. The umbrella prop was STORYTELLING. I love it. Shannon and Derek have practically asked us to be interested in them as a couple...tonight on the dance floor they delivered in the only way that matters. A killer dance...beautiful deep royal blue ensemble on the pair and a sexy, charged performance. Shannon's deep tango make-up job was a bit harsh...did not even look like her...but the dance was great. One side note: in the pre-taped package before the dance, Shannon threatened him with going home alone...it was a real moment that put a stamp on their flirtation. He is a Mormon...abstention is the way. Posted by Billy Bush at 7:33 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Who Is To Blame Over Miley Photos? April 28, 2008 The topless photo of Miley Cyrus in Vanity Fair seems like a really bad idea that nobody opposed. Not even Miley's (we thought) protective parents. And almost as provocative as the topless photo of Miley clutching nothing more than a blanket (every child loves their blankie) is the shot of her with her dad, lounging like lovers, baring the midriff. We get it, dad and daughter are close but this is a little creepy. She's not 10. She's starting to appear like a woman. I like Miley a lot and I think Billy Ray is as genuine as they get. The fact that neither dad nor daughter, nor the real backbone of the family, MOM, voiced opposition to this unfortunate invasion of innocence stuns me. Let me be clear, this photo disturbs me greatly. I have a nine-year-old daughter whose youth and innocence I am desperately trying to extend for as long as humanly possible. Like many parents, I saw Miley Cyrus as my single greatest ally in this effort. Judging by Miley's comments in USA Today about how it all went down, I can take a calculated, measured guess as to how this happened. Miley told Vanity Fair, "I think it's really artsy. It wasn't in a skanky way. Annie took, like, a beautiful shot, and I thought that was really cool. That's what she wanted me to do, and you can't say no to Annie. She's so cute. She gets this puppy-dog look and you're like, OK.' " According to Miley, Annie Leibovitz coaxed her into it...giving the "puppy-dog please". Uggh. Gross. Miley and her parents were no doubt flattered that "the great Annie Leibovitz" had agreed to photo her. Remember, Annie's job is to "take" from the subject...to get out of them all she can. But Miley is 15 and a role model for girls all over the world...Can't we just leave innocent alone? Celebrity publicists all over town will sell their firstborn (exaggeration) to get their clients in Vanity Fair...in other words, its the elite, the tops. Celebs who do get chosen to be in it know that there are no holds barred in a Vanity Fair interview. They better be ready to give up their most intimate, guarded secret. VF is the Oprah of print, but even more choice. But Miley likely doesn't have many juicy details or hidden secrets in her young life...she's a good natured, balanced 15-year-old. It appears that gap was filled by Annie and her camera. The article won't matter at all and most people won't even read it. Booooo! "Boo" to Annie for pushing the idea...if in fact she did. All it's done is upset a lot of people. "Boo" to Miley's managers and parents for being star struck by "artsy" Annie past the point of good judgment...if in fact they were. "Boo" to Vanity Fair for putting out a statement saying, "...everyone thought it was a beautiful and natural portrait of Miley. In fact, when Bruce Handy interviewed Miley, he asked her about the photo and she was very cheerful about it and thought it was perfectly fine." Claiming Miley's "embarrassment" over the photo is just buyer's remorse doesn't change the fact that this is a BAD idea. Miley was mishandled, let down and she may feel some backlash from parents who used to let their kids consume all products Miley. She certainly has some sucking up to do. Posted by Billy Bush at 7:35 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'The Billy Bush Show' Hits The Airwaves April 17, 2008 "The Billy Bush Show" is out of the gates and strong. Julia Roberts phoned in for our opening night. Mariah Carey the next day. Tomorrow, I'm scheduled to chat with Jack Nicholson, with whom I played golf on saturday. He is a strong player and of course, the biggest star there is. Jack doesn't do much in the press so this is special. Lindsay Lohan will be on Friday. This is not luck or a calling in of favors. It's a result of 6 years of building a name and reputation. People know I ask the questions that need to be asked but they also know I love a laugh more than anything in life and I want people to never regret coming on with me. Life is too short for burned bridges.....of which I only have one in hollywood. Wait, maybe there's a second, but that's a result of a shortsighted, prejudiced celebrity...nothing to do with me as a person. Michelle Salvatore is my radio producer. She is young and has a huge future...managing our show and me at the same time is no easy feat. She moved from New York only a month ago....totally uprooted and on her own. As I try to adjust to a frantic pace in my work day, now that my work has more than doubled, its important to remember there are many others making sacrifices. I hope you listen to the show and here's some good news: many more affiliates are about to jump on board thanks to the awesome debut of this show. Posted by Billy Bush at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry A Night Of Laughs & Hanging With Bob Barker In Vegas April 15, 2008 Last Tuesday night was a great night for Me, Dane Cook, Hollywood in general and best of all the children who benefit from the Lollipop Theater Network, where I sit on the board. Several months ago, Dane Cook offered to headline a stand-up night for me and Lollipop after my misstep on celebrity 'Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?'. His motive was to help make back some money that I lost as a result of "going for it". A great guy. His comedy was hysterical. Dom Irrera, Ian Edwards (a guy I had never heard before and boy was he funny) and Jeff Ross all killed it and the crowd went nuts. Best of all, the comics were touched by the work of Lollipop and will come back again if we do it next year, especially Dane. Billy Bush at The Laugh Factory Thanks so much to Jamie Masada of the Laugh Factory for giving so much to us so we could pull this huge win off. Check out Lollipop's site...it'll move you. On another note, I was in Vegas yesterday emceeing the NAB luncheon inducting Bob Barker into the hall of fame. It was a great tribute to Bob and his 50-year TV career. I was honored that Bob signed off on me as the emcee. We played Plinko on stage with some audience members...the crowd loved it. We had some big laughs. My personal favorite moment was watching the tribute video to Bob backstage side by side with Bob before he went out on stage. It was special. Me, Bob and a TV screen. When the video touched Bob's partnership in life and in producing TV with his wife Dorothy Jo, Bob got a little emotional. After the show, Bob spoke with me on Access about his wife and I loved him more. I love and count on my wife just the same. Congrats to the legendary Bob Barker on an amazing career and life. Posted by Billy Bush at 2:25 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Laughing Away With Dane Cook For Charity April 3, 2008 We are less than a week away from the first ever Lollipop Laugh Off with Headliner Dane Cook. (click here for event details!) Since joining the board of Lollipop Theater Network a couple years ago, I have found myself getting more and more involved. Frankly, it's impossible not to when one considers the mission of Lollipop: we bring movies currently showing, and, when possible, the stars of the films, to children who are confined to the hospital. No kid should be cut off from the world his or her friends know every day, to battle illness. The laughter and the normalcy can help a child to fight illness and stave off fear. When I think about a child laying in isolation surrounded by wires, tubes, beeping devices, it crushes me. Light, laughter, entertainment, and distractions of a childlike nature are essential. We provide that. Back to Dane Cook and the Laugh Off this Tuesday April 8th at the Laugh Factory on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. Dane offered to do this event. And the story goes... I made an appearance on Fox's 'Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?'; I played for the benefit of Lollipop. In the thick of it, I had $175,000 in the bank. The mistake was going for $300,000. I did and I failed. In short, I walked away with only $25,000. But right there I said to host Jeff Foxworthy, I will make back the $150,000 I left on the table. I sent an email to friends asking if they might donate something to Lollipop. Dane Cook emailed back to me his idea of doing a stand-up benefit for us. Thank you Dane Cook. You are an excellent man and so many families with a sick child will ultimately appreciate the funds you have already helped raise. Some tickets are left. Not a lot, but I encourage you to call now so you can join us for a powerful night. Posted by Billy Bush at 10:31 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'Dancing' The Night Away March 18, 2008 So great that "Dancing With The Stars" is back. As Steve Guttenberg said, "It's great to be part of something so positive". I was impressed with Jason Taylor of the Miami Dolphins whose partner is Edyta. Edyta is married but clearly enamored with him. Sorry, my wife agrees. Steve Guttenberg has infectious warmth. He is a happy, nice guy and he ignites positively in everybody. Adam Carolla was hysterical...funny and unpredictable in that he wasn't entirely "cool guy", he was vulnerable and real, as well as funny and "male". Cristian de la Fuente is very sexy. He awoke a dormant pair of hips and my wife and I agree he will excel. Privately, I'm sure you could get her to admit that he is gorgeous. Now...Mario is dancing with Karina Smirnoff. She has danced with a "Mario" before and they ended up lovers. You know how it just seems that there are some actors who end up involved with every co-star with whom they are matched...these two give me that feeling. They were all over each other. Watch them in the interview after the dance. Two sexy, physical people. Can they stop themselves? Here we go again. Posted by Billy Bush at 9:47 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Sounding Off On Spitzer March 11, 2008 New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is an embarrassment. People should be outraged that the Governor of New York was subverting his wife and chasing a prostitute. Client #9....way to go, Spitzer. How stupid and self-destructive can this guy be? For a TV personality to do this, for example, it would be monumentally stupid. For the Governor of New York...amazingly, stratospherically dumb. Never mind that the guy is an unfaithful weasel, he's too reckless to be Governor. In his brief words, he made clear that he believes personal lives are personal, clearly hoping to inoculate himself from official punishment. How arrogant. He "allegedly" broke the law, although that "allegedly" is only there to mollify our legal department. Prostitution is illegal in New York and if in fact he engaged in conduct of this nature, which he no doubt did, the people of New York (and I am a born and raised New Yorker) will not let this guy off the hook (sorry, I had to). The arrogance of this guy whose lofty state position breathes an air of superiority in his lungs is almost as irritating as the sight of one more political wife taking the place next to her royal sinner with that look of resilience where there should only be anger and vindictive bitterness....a look that says "I'll get this idiot back, believe me." Gov. Spitzer made his name as a hard-nosed prosecutor and attorney general who ran on a platform of cleaning up the shady politics of Albany. His credibility is long gone and his legacy will be as a proverbial blemish on the rear end of New York. And Guv, when you're done apologizing to your wife and three kids, say you're sorry to kids all over the country...you were a role model. Posted by Billy Bush at 9:03 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Hitting The Slopes For Charity March 4, 2008 I went to Aspen this past weekend and skied in a celebrity race to benefit Aspen Youth Experience. What started out as a fun ski weekend to Aspen with friends turned out to be a moving experience for all of us. A young woman named Ayesha, who raced on my team incidentally, got up on Saturday night dressed beautifully and spoke of her painful journey in life. From early teen alcohol abuse to being sexually assaulted by a group of boys one awful day at a bus stop, this girl got up and told us all what happened to her and how Aspen Youth Experience came into her life at when the whole thing looked like a dead end. This charity takes at youth teens and sets them up in Aspen with families who are privileged. They ski, they taste the better life, they enter workshops with other kids and share painful but MUTUAL experiences. They heal together and inevitably they come out alright. After they leave Aspen, AYE does monthly follow-ups to make sure the kids are ok until they return again. I cried during young Ayesha's speech. She is now a mother AND a staff sergeant in the Us Army. I'm crying now just typing this. Her interest is communications. I told her I'd hire her if she wanted a job someday with me. Note to boss, sorry if we weren't hiring, but we have to on this one. I'll pay her salary if need be. The kid is bright and way beyond "battle tested". The substantive part of the weekend is what I take away but the race and nightlife were amazing. I won the "fastest celebrity" trophy with a time of 18:07 but it doesn't really count as I've been skiing since 3 years old. Kate Walsh and I joined Dean Cain and his parents at the top of Aspen for lunch. (Here's Kate and I with a crushing view). The Cain family was so generous all weekend and Aspen Youth Experience is better of for it. Another woman who changes lives with her generosity of wallet and spirit is Nancy Rodgers. Her husband runs Mary Kay Cosmetics and they sponsored so much all weekend. She is an advocate and a life changer. I returned home to my world humbled once again and committed to helping these people in any way I can. Oh...a true highlight.... Honoree Fisher Stevens on stage with the kids of Aspen Youth Experience doing a blues/rap on his harmonica about the organization. It brought down the house. Posted by Billy Bush at 10:50 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'Mom, I Wanna Be A Paparazzo When I Grow Up!' February 20, 2008 Two TMZ photographers were arrested by cops last night in Hollywood. Whether they were technically in violation of any specific law or not, what is for certain is that TMZ is essentially a paparazzi outfit with an editorial division. TMZ is an establishment Hollywood production... The two camera operators apprehended last night are Warner Bros./Telepictures employees from a show that airs on a broadcast network. TMZ is the first example of a Hollywood establishment getting into the renegade hounding business that the paparazzi have created. All shows have shot on the sidewalk before, but not as a result of following a star wherever they go, every day, every hour... While that may not qualify as "stalking" legally, it's something pretty darn close in my opinion. It's pretty outrageous. In this world, since Warner Bros. is home to a lot of stars, you have the hunters and the hunted on the same company payroll. My understanding is that most of the TMZ photographers are young kids, handed cameras and told to go out and get it. It's kind of a fun post-college gig at first look. What do they tell their parents, "I'm a videographer, mom!" If they're straight with themselves, it's, "Mom, I'm a paparazzo... don't tell dad." Posted by Billy Bush at 3:38 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Where In The World Is Billy Bush? February 18, 2008 Michael Starr of the NY Post caught me. He wrote in his column today that I have been off the air for a week and a half due to a staph infection in my Larynx. It's like the ultimate curse on a professional talker. Michael e-mailed me last Friday inquiring about my absence (nice of him to notice), and not wanting to encourage speculation I did what always happens in Hollywood I told it to him straight. I think its been festering for months, but now, with 72 hours of a strong antibiotics in my bloodstream, the base in my voice is returning. I seem to finally be healing. In October and November, I was conscious of strained vocal chords. In January, it was almost totally unmanageable. Early this month, I was done. I prayed, I pleaded, I went to the doc every day. A few weeks ago, after church, I walked around to the "prayer rail," where trained healers help people pray for whatever ails them. I shared in some moment. I knelt at the rail, laid my hands into those of a stranger, and when I briefly looked up into the eyes of this person, I recognized him. He was a regular cast member on "The West Wing." So there's faith in Hollywood! It was classic. In this process, I have also learned something about doctors that I'd like to share with you: Many of them are not receptive to the idea that there might be "something more" to what are some standard symptoms. They see a problem and they throw out a solution or worse, give you a quick fix (I took EVERY medication imaginable). Many doctors have lost the intellectual curiosity that lured them into the field in the first place. You can see it in their demeanor. There are also some docs that have not. They are engaged, they see a bad situation, respect it and treat it with their brain first. Dr. Steven Zeitels in Boston is as alert and smart as his reputation suggests. He listened and sent something out of my throat to the lab. Dr. Bob Wolfe, pulmonoligist at Cedars-Sinai in LA, is a gentle soul who listened intently and right away pledged himself to seeing me through. He was not pre-disposed to knowing the answer. I felt better right off the bat. If you are facing a medical problem, I hope you find a doctor with the perfect combination of intellectual curiosity, humble pie and bedside manner. Posted by Billy Bush at 6:50 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Leave Jamie Lynn Alone! February 12, 2008 I just received another release from another desperate magazine trumpeting their possession of some really "juicy" Jamie Lynn Spears news. I shouldn't have opened it. They have details on the different things she has purchased for her boyfriend [and assumed father] of her unborn child, Casey. They also have new photos and in the "personal" note attached by the publicist, "you can see her bump more than any other." Personal to us and any other TV show that might mention their name. Long has it been said about Britney and many other young celebs that they are as much at fault as the paparazzi who follow them because they seem to flaunt it in public. In other words, if they were to "go away," the hounds would too. Jamie Lynn Spears, most importantly, is 16 years old. She is a child. She is also pregnant, which you can imagine carries with it a truckload of emotion, uncertainty, prematurely activated hormones, and so on. But, she HAS gone away to little old Kentwood, Louisiana. She's walking around her sleepy little town in sweats. Leave her alone. Now it's plain and simply stalking a minor. Whether that can be defined legally or not, we all know its true. Too many celebrity news outlets -- that kind of supply makes the standards of demand all but disappear. Posted by Billy Bush at 9:17 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Kanye's Personal Grammy Moment February 11, 2008 Kanye West's bid during his acceptance speech to stop the "wrap-up" music last night was another example of his contentious relationship with the music industry. He has never felt that he is given the proper respect. Not just Grammy, but MTV VMA's and AMA's too. The fact that he lost Album of the Year to Herbie Hancock will drive him crazy for another year. He wants respect from the Grammy's. Two armloads of gramophones in one night is how he defines it I think. "Is this what you've been waiting for?" he yells into the crowd during his performance. The crowd was ok, but they're wearing suits, they aren't going to go nuts. "Stronger" was not his strongest....but he did make a major impact. That in a moment. But that was also the indignant Kanye's way of getting the upper hand in his career-long struggle with music's authorities. You WILL respect me. But under the complex layers of the artist is a brilliant and affecting Kanye West. His song "Hey Mama" was beautiful. Tears were in my eyes as he poured passion and emotion into his tribute to his late mother, Donda. To quote Sam Rubin, local KTLA entertainment reporter whom everyone knows in LA, "the Grammys are about moments and THAT was a moment". Forget the struggle, Kanye. You are brilliant and gifted. In that emotional tribute to your mother, in song no less, you paid tribute to the love of sons to their moms everywhere. It was great. You got MY respect, their respect and everyone's. Posted by Billy Bush at 11:44 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry A Candid Chat With Cher February 8, 2008 I just interviewed the illustrious Cher last night. She told me her friend and a true American icon, Farrah Fawcett, is cancer free. I asked when she last spoke to Farrah and cher said "a few days ago". This is excellent news and I will pray for Farrah Fawcett as well all others in that fight. Cher was outstanding...very interesting to talk to, approachable I guess, quite beautiful too. She said Tom Cruise, whom she dated in the 80's was a true gentleman and yet with a "bad boy" streak. That's good press. She was shocked at the interest in that topic. She's supporting Hillary because she knows her. I thought she was more the Obama type. Since she professes to be an independent, I said "why not McCain?"....he's seen by many as sort of the naughty Republican, the one that keeps stepping out of line. In 2000, he was loved by many independents. She said....."too old". I said, "he may not appreciate that coming from you". She stood her ground. She always does. Oh, I asked her if Restylane(R) and Botox(R) were fair game. She said "not for her" but she would do anything she felt like. Elaborating on it I felt was getting too close to uncomfortability. So I backed off. Who cares? What's really sexy about Cher is the attitude, the character. She's never played by others' rules. She is the most famous outsider of all. Posted by Billy Bush at 12:41 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry We're Not Buyin'... February 6, 2008 I am sitting in our Executive Producer's office, where he answers all calls on speaker phone -- he just got one from our photo editor who said there is an agency out there looking to sell exclusive photos of the apartment Heath Ledger died in to a news magazine. She was gauging his interest. My ears perked up; I peered over my computer monitor, which faces his. I watched as he did the right thing. He said 'No' -- too exploitive, and -- gross. I wonder if it will pop up somewhere else? If it does, they should get a big break on the price, because there's not competition. Posted by Billy Bush at 1:54 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Difference On Being 'Inside' February 6, 2008 Having just submitted the below posting about Rob passing on the exclusive photos of the apartment in which Heath passed away -- I walked over to the stage, got my suit on, and while I was doing make-up, I heard this: "Inside the Hotel room where Anna Nicole died." It was coming from the mouth of Tony Potts, who has been covering Anna Nicole since day one. I ran into the control room where I found Rob and I asked, "What's the difference?" He replied, "a year." I said, "It's still the same thing." He held strong and since he has ultimate approval as to what gets on the air at Access, I backed away. That train had left the station. I understand his point to a degress, but I still, personally, file it in the, "Gross -- leave it alone," column. Posted by Billy Bush at 1:57 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'Outrageous Tonight' January 31, 2008 I don't often comment on our competition, but because we have so much of it in the "entertainment show" genre these days, we are often lumped in a group together. The fact is, we're very different, and that stems mostly from the difference in scruples of the respective Executive Producers. "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider" ran a promo tonight for their Heath Ledger drug use video, which they "reportedly" (love that lawyer enforced word) bought for a couple hundred thousand dollars. A still frame of this video which shows Heath apparently doing cocaine ran on the east coast feed of "ET," but on the west coast feed, the tasteless still shot was replaced with a shot of someone's feet (Heath's, I guess). The voice over by Mary Hart had not changed, however. She still spoke of the incriminating scene and still promo'd the full video tomorrow. Yes, the still shot was just a taste. Tomorrow is Day 1 of the sweeps ratings period. Gross. Totally gross. And add to that some predictability: "ET" and "The Insider" higher ups released this tonight: "Out of respect for HEATH LEDGER's family, 'Entertainment Tonight' and 'The Insider' have decided not to run the Heath Ledger video which has been circulating in the world media," "Out of respect" - Oh my. How about, "in response to a letter of outrage, written by Heath's publicist, circulating the industry hotter and faster than nude Brangelina photos could, we have decided to duck and run here." That would be refreshingly honest. Here's an excerpt of that aforementioned letter by Heath's publicity firm and clearly in defense of those loved ones of Heath's still reeling from the loss: "Tonight Entertainment Tonight/The Insider are previewing an extremely distasteful segment regarding Heath Ledger. The segment centers around a two-year old video ET purchased for a large sum of money in the hopes of stirring up a salacious and exploitive story about Heath, which would win them big ratings on the first day of sweeps. The two outlets did not even have the courtesy to wait until after Heath's burial to broadcast this segment. They intend to air the full segment tomorrow." For the sake of his grieving family and friends, his child, and common decency, we hope to pressure "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider" to do the right thing and pull the spot. This is not journalism, it is sensationalism. It is a shameful exploitation of the lowest kind, to a talented and gentle soul, undeserving of such treatment. Wow. I don't always leap to the side of publicists, because objectivity is sometimes an afterthought. They are hired to shape an image, but -- Heath Ledger's family has not even had the chance to bury their son. We know he had problems, but this kind of salacious opportunism is poisonous. I struggle with every type of borderline exploitive material. I'm a constant pain to our Executive Producer as I worry too much that things go too far. Ask him. I am shocked that Mary Hart would read this crap. I know her and she is a very nice lady, but its clear to me she's "checked out" of that place, basically taking whatever they put in her hand and reading it with the same excitable veneer you'd expect to hear at a 50's sock hop. Mary gets paid a lot of money. She must have the clout to say 'no.' Their Executive producer used to run "Hard Copy." She doesn't hit the brakes for anything. But Mary, you are the June Cleaver of entertainment news; this cannot be OK. Let's see how long the outrage lasts. Posted by Billy Bush at 10:10 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Tragic Death Of Heath Ledger & Those He Left Behind January 22, 2008 The death of Heath Ledger is.... What's the word? It's unexpected, tragic, gut-wrenching, stunning, awful, but none of these seem to account for who suffers here. That's where the pit in the stomach comes from. I can't help but think of Heath's two-year-old, Matilda, his innocent daughter. She'll wonder where her playmate went...that big, captivating, exciting man that made her feel so good. She may only verbalize it occasionally, and in a repetitive two year old sort of way, but she'll feel it so deeply. That profound and raw sense of loss is what sticks. Without knowing the exact concoction that killed Heath or the state of his health at the time, it appears Heath Ledger may have been a man in pain. A great creative talent with an inner pain and what may have been an addiction that swallowed him alive. I hate to think there was nobody who could help pull him out. He seemed to have died very much alone. I did not know Heath well at all. I interviewed him a few times. I remember an almost surly guy with a pre-set disdain for me. Not for any other reason than I wanted to know about him, which is a form of taking. A lot of celebs can't wait to tell you about themselves. Heath was not one of them. He guarded his words. He truly hated paparazzi. Second to the brutal impact of little Matilda losing her daddy, is the world has lost one of the greatest actors of any generation. From Monster's ball to Brokeback Mountain, Heath was really deep and really good. According to Michael Caine, Heath's work as The Joker in the upcoming Batman sequel, "The Dark Knight," is unmatched. I will watch and most likely think about Matilda when it's over. Tonight I pray for Matilda, Michelle, Heath's family and all of us in the media.... I hope the reporting (and blogging - the standard free flow of often uncorroborated, unsubstantiated information) doesn't amount to a pack of paparazzi with pens and microphones.... because with so many outlets and sources competing for a story, the little Matildas of the world get lost. Posted by Billy Bush at 8:56 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry A Different Kind Of Globes January 14, 2008 Well the reviews are in for our primetime Golden Globe Winners Special last night on NBC and they are wildly positive....or positively wild. Frankly, we all knew the raves would escape us. Who wants to see anyone reading winners' names instead of the unpredictable speeches, surprised newcomers, inebriated celebrities, great gowns, hair and jewels that come with the Globes every year? Nobody really. We knew that. I'd much rather see the globes and then host our backstage hour with the winners...as was the original plan before the writers strike changed all of this. In the end, people are not saying nice things about me and Nancy O'Dell today (and she's the nicest person I know), but the roots are not personal. People are frustrated with the writers strike and the first time since 1964 when they were first televised nationally, the Globes did not go on. If the parade of celebs are going to be halted, from the viewers perspective, it had better be because there is something much better. Nope, it was Nancy and me. Before us, it was Matt Lauer and the folks at Dateline....they are not faring well with critics either. People are venting. I get it. And I'm frustrated too. Let's hope the strike gets resolved and we all get back to the business of creativity and celebration thereof. I'd also like to clarify a comment I made last night on the fly. I expressed surprise that Cate Blanchett won the globe for her turn as Bob Dylan in 'I'm Not There'. I said it was a 'woman imitating a man'. Due to the lack of time for the show, our comments had to be pithy at most. With more time, my point would have been the same...that for me personally, I'm too much of a realist. I cannot get past that point. The soft, pale skin, the voice being forced into a more testosteronic pitch. But, the work was courageous, bold and frankly very cool. I can't imagine another woman pulling it off with such cool. Posted by Billy Bush at 12:32 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Ryan Seacrest & Kara DioGuardi Take The Spotlight During 'American Idol's' Return January 14, 2008 Yesterday I weighed in on the Brad and Angelina red carpet snub for Seacrest. In short, if you're any good, "it happens." Ryan is and thus it can happen. Most red carpet mic holders are so safe and buttery that they make the whole "arrivals" thing fodder for haters. But apparently it's Seacrest's turn in the barrel right now. Tuesday night he high-fived a blind guy... Hey, it happens. Realizing it quickly, Ryan made up for it by telling the guy and taking his hand to complete the universal sign of approval. Scott McIntyre, the contestant, didn't care... Why should anyone else? Fact is, "Idol" producers slave over every edit in each episode. It's a cash cow that employs a lot of people. It proved recession proof last night. It allowed Kevin Reilly, FOX's entertainment boss, to say FOX has no plans for major cutbacks, (i.e. layoffs). So they left that whoops-a-daisy in there on purpose. Ryan plays the fool in some of these early episodes. So, what's the big deal? I like that Kara DioGuardi called bikini babe a B#?ch! What? That was a first... Good stuff last night. I spoke to Kara D today...we go back. She was great and I think she's become a tad controversial... to FOX's delight. Posted by Billy Bush at 9:00 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Jamie Lynn Spears & The State Of Young Hollywood December 19, 2007 I just landed at LAX airport, returning from New York. I turned on my BlackBerry and it started churning out the emails. When it crossed over 50, I knew something was up. I am shocked, floored, stunned, depressed, bitter, sad but mostly disheartened with the last name Spears. What is nagging at me the most is the fact that OK! Magazine is rolling out this story. More than any other outlet, OK! routinely pays celebrities for access to their personal life. They usually are very positive in tone and I do not blame them at all for their pay to play approach - it works. But if OK! paid, then little Jamie Lynn and her camp (which should be one person dealing with Tiger Beat a few times a month) had the instinct to profit at a moment like this. A sixteen-year-old girl, a baby herself, totally ill equipped to raise a child and become a mother, gets pregnant and already opportunism strikes? It would be a product of what I view as the growing underbelly of Hollywood. This story is big. I imagine even real stars, like Tom Hanks and his wife Rita, sitting on their couch talking about this one. It's unavoidable and not great. If Page Six is right and the other night Jamie Lynn and her mom went to see a screening of "Juno" (an Oscar caliber movie about a 16 year old who gets pregnant, has the child and gives her to a much more mature, barren older woman) might that mean she's researching that same option? If so, how mature, but still very sad. Again, who thinks to SELL the story at a time like this? I hope not Jamie Lynn. If so, they could all stand to return to Louisiana for good. I have three daughters...the oldest is nine...she has seen "Zoey 101", Jamie Lynn's TV show. I have no doubt she will know about this debacle somehow. Those girls in her school know way too much. A lot of their parents, in the entertainment business, will probably talk about it with them. I'm not really happy about it. I feel like these too famous, too young girls (mostly) in Hollywood do little other than pull the average age of "knowing too much" lower all the time. Miley Cyrus... save us. You're too young to be expected to lead, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I'm counting on her. A real talent with strong family and faith. It's late. I'm tired. I need sleep so I can brace myself for the months and years of double the amount of "Spears News" ahead. God Bless little Jamie Lynn and her baby. And please help her. Posted by Billy Bush at 10:29 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry A Hearty Thanks From The Friendly Skies November 23, 2007 I just finished my travel from Los Angeles to Park City. That's LAX to SLC. I would like to now voice something we very rarely here: A huge thank you to Southwest Airlines (landed 20 minutes early), the TSA (people shuffling through security with every lane open and many handlers to facilitate the flow. The curbside was fast and efficient. Thank you FAA, TCA, SWA and SDB (Sydney D. Bush, my sweet wife for sitting with our 3 year old who was squirming quite a bit on the flight. A great success for the Bushes travelling this holiday. I hope everyone experiences the same. Happy Thanksgiving. Posted by Billy Bush at 2:10 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry A Big Thumbs Up For Roger Ebert November 11, 2007 I interviewed Roger Ebert over the weekend at his home in Chicago. I had never spent time with the legendary film critic before but my impression of him was always one of extreme knowledge, some impatience and a tad of pomp. When you get awarded a pultizer prize for excellence in criticism, you're allowed some pomp, or at least some ego on display. Roger has been through a lot in the last five years. He beat Thyroid cancer in 2002. He then got salivary gland cancer which later spread to his jaw. In June of 2006, he had surgery on his jaw...a couple weeks later he had a burst cartoid artery and had to have emergency surgery. They gave him a tracheostomy and now he has a tight bandage around his neck, his lip hangs down low, leaving his mouth agape. The man looks a little beat up....but he has LIFE. He is grateful, gracious, kind and the same unabashedly honest critic that he was before. When I do an interview with an actor whose movie stinks, I ask one question about the movie and move on to something else. If Roger sees a bad movie, he tells people why its bad. If you're a director, actor or producer he can be your best friend or worst enemy. He's still doing it. Roger Ebert cannot speak obviously, so he types his answers into a laptop...a Bristish sort of accent spits his words out of speakers attached. Now that's pomp. Roger speculated on his life and health. We spoke about next months reconstructive surgery to try and return his voice. He is hopeful but nervous. Roger's wife, Chazz, is a beautiful, kind woman. She has held Roger's hand through this. He is not much in this fight without her. They came on camera together and what started out as the tragedy and subsequent triumphs of Roger Ebert turned into a remarkable, touching love story between Roger and Chazz. She is African-American. He is the whitest guy on the planet. Together, they brought tears to my eyes. The tapes are going to edit. The piece is coming soon. Don't miss it if you can help it. It's very special....wait 'til you see the beautiful movie theater in his basement named after the place they had their first date. Tears will break. Posted by Billy Bush at 11:14 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Breaking Down The Celebrity Hunt November 1, 2007 Every morning I wake up and read the synopsis of last night's celebrity happenings. I get the written reports and details on what video is available. It's amazing how little sleep some of these people need. Our policy is to buy only the non-invasive footage from the agencies that employ these paparazzi. Honest question is: if we didn't buy any and if every other show and magazine all of a sudden banded together and refused to buy any, wouldn't they all go away? Wouldn't the celebrities be safer and happier being left alone? I really am lost here. For sure, some celebs would be happier and quite grateful. Not all. I am convinced Britney Spears loves the attention. When they finally do go away, out of boredom or her finally being passé, she will go into an attention deficit withdrawal...my belief. How did Ben Affleck go from one of the most hunted to largely left alone? HE went away. He "played dead" so the hounds looked him over, shrugged, and went away. Britney loves the attention and I think it keeps her sealed off from the reality of her plight. She's a mom only allowed to spend one night a week with her kids. How Horrifying. Who goes out partying most every night after being presented with that reality? That's enough to send most women into a spiral of pain...an event that would prompt a woman with her instincts in tact, to go into survival mode and do everything and anything to get them back. If her album is successful, she might take it as proof that everything is going well. As the media (almost across the board) keeps the current climate in tact by buying the video of paps surrounding her car, the message that comes from fans who buy the album is that she's doing great - don't change a thing. So, the responsible media and fans cannot shoulder the blame here. Britney has to wise up, with the intervention of a true friend or relative, and get right. She should talk to Ben. The two enablers around her, Sam and Alli, might do well to understand that "if" they are remembered, it will likely be as the two who had the best chance to help her and did not. Posted by Billy Bush at 12:43 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Why TV Shouldn't Burn Its Fan Base! October 30, 2007 There is a lot of great TV out there right now, they just have to save it. If the writers strike happens... if we wake up on Thursday morning and all of a sudden TV is all about Reality, Game Shows and Re-runs, it will be a very sad event. Ratings will plummet. People will get angry with TV... may start READING or something (horror!). I just saw some great TV. I watched the season finale of "Californication" last night and it was awesome. I think David Duchovny is Emmy bound for his lost soul, fighter/writer, Hank Moody. But as soon as the credits were finished rolling, they teased a new season "coming soon." It occurred to me, they aren't sure how soon because they may not have their writers to do the job. The networks on top of the ratings and the cable and pay cable nets on a creative roll, are going to have to lead the way through this mess in the 11th hour. Halloween is doomsday... how ironic is that? I should mention, the "writers strike" mostly has to do with the growing pains of the entertainment business everyone is dealing with in one way or another... writers want more of a stake in the digital distribution of their content (mobile phones, Web downloads, podcasts, all that stuff for the content addict). Networks still haven't figured out how to fully exploit all those exciting new avenues, so they think its premature to write bigger checks to the penholders. I will miss "Californication," "Rescue Me," "Nip/Tuck," "The Office," "Big Love," and "Entourage"... like I said, great TV is out there. I'm a hockey fan, so I must invoke past experience when pleading to the powers: don't piss off your base (everyone in this case). NHL Hockey did in their strike. They NEVER got it back. Have you ever heard of the Versus Channel? That's where I watch my playoff hockey... come join me some night. Posted by Billy Bush at 11:19 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Huddling Up With Jerry Seinfeld October 28, 2007 When Jerry Seinfeld walked into my interview room, ready to chat about 'Bee Movie,' his early days as an experimental Scientologist, our viability as a gay couple (he brought that one up; I was just flattered), I had the New England Patriots game on. After telling Jerry I was not an across the board Boston fan (what a great time to be one), I did admit to loving the Patriots and Tom Brady. Jerry wasn't so sure Tom deserved ALL the adulation... he referenced the model juggling act Tom has recently managed in his life - Tom went from Bridget Moynahan, who he later discovered was pregnant, to Giselle Bundchen. I asked Jerry to consider the two models and all that extracurricular activity in his life and how Tom is still laser focused on the field. "We could throw in a third model, and I still think he'd pull it off." Jerry began to come around. "What Jerry Seinfeld is to stand-up comedy, Tom Brady is to the QB position in football." Jerry came full circle. How we got into He and I as a gay couple is all Jerry's doing Posted by Billy Bush at 10:43 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Paris Hilton's Rwandan Drama October 26, 2007 Paris Hilton is no longer going to Rwanda because the two people who founded Playing For Good have split their ways. Maria Bravo, a dedicated philanthropist who joined forces with Scott Lazerson, a former executive Director of the Larry King Foundation and equally dedicated philanthropist. Paris attended the Playing For Good Philanthropic Summit this past summer in Mallorca, Spain at the behest of Scott who met her through a mutual friend. He came away from their first meeting seeing a woman ready to change. Maria came away hopeful but a bit skeptical. I was supposed to attend the same summit over in Mallorca and was asked to emcee the final gala on Saturday night. I told Maria and Scott I could not share a stage with Paris Hilton, casting the spotlight on her as a philanthropist, without having the simultaneous opportunity of interviewing her. There were questions, I contended, that she needed to answer. I wanted to follow up on the many altruistic promises she made on Larry King during that groundbreaking post jail interview. Her words to Larry: "I feel like, you know, being in the spotlight, I have a platform where I can raise awareness for so many great causes and just do so much with this, instead of, you know, superficial things like going out. I want to help raise money for kids and for breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and..." She's given the world a sex tape, bad movies, jail time; but the appearance in Spain would be her first step into helping others... although it WAS a party. Suffice it to say, I felt like a report card was in order. Still do... and its coming. Although, with it plain and clear that peoples' standards for Hilty are low, why bother, right? Scott tried to make my interview happen. Paris' manager, Jason Moore, shot it down (with Paris' consent I imagine). They knew I wouldn't be kissing up during this interview. So, I had to turn the event down. Maria Bravo understood. Scott believed that Paris was the next Angelina Jolie, but also understood. They got Extra to come instead and they aired a nothing interview... no questions with any salt. I'm sure Hilty was happy, although Extra aired it on a night that they were preempted in New York and many other big eastern markets. So, not many people saw it. Yesterday, People released a statement from Playing for Good that said Paris' trip was no longer happening. One reason is that Scott let the press in too early on the trip, long before any arrangements had been made with the Rwandan government for military security, and safety. As Maria said, "This is Rwanda, not Miami"... arrangements need to be made first including immunizations and shots. Scott Lazerson told me that he recently left Playing For Good because he had not been paid since August. An hour ago, I asked him if he was still going to Rwanda. He said that he was indeed at the end of November. I asked if Paris was going to. He said, "She's 100% invited". He would not say more than that. Now that Scott is on his own, likely the only way Paris can go is if she pays for the trip herself. Posted by Billy Bush at 8:17 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Tragedy Of The Malibu Fires October 23, 2007 Paris Hilton is no longer going to Rwanda because the two people who founded Playing For Good have split their ways. Maria Bravo, a dedicated philanthropist who joined forces with Scott Lazerson, a former executive Director of the Larry King Foundation and equally dedicated philanthropist. Paris attended the Playing For Good Philanthropic Summit this past summer in Mallorca, Spain at the behest of Scott who met her through a mutual friend. He came away from their first meeting seeing a woman ready to change. Maria came away hopeful but a bit skeptical. I was supposed to attend the same summit over in Mallorca and was asked to emcee the final gala on Saturday night. I told Maria and Scott I could not share a stage with Paris Hilton, casting the spotlight on her as a philanthropist, without having the simultaneous opportunity of interviewing her. There were questions, I contended, that she needed to answer. I wanted to follow up on the many altruistic promises she made on Larry King during that groundbreaking post jail interview. Her words to Larry: "I feel like, you know, being in the spotlight, I have a platform where I can raise awareness for so many great causes and just do so much with this, instead of, you know, superficial things like going out. I want to help raise money for kids and for breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and..." She's given the world a sex tape, bad movies, jail time; but the appearance in Spain would be her first step into helping others... although it WAS a party. Suffice it to say, I felt like a report card was in order. Still do... and its coming. Although, with it plain and clear that peoples' standards for Hilty are low, why bother, right? Scott tried to make my interview happen. Paris' manager, Jason Moore, shot it down (with Paris' consent I imagine). They knew I wouldn't be kissing up during this interview. So, I had to turn the event down. Maria Bravo understood. Scott believed that Paris was the next Angelina Jolie, but also understood. They got Extra to come instead and they aired a nothing interview... no questions with any salt. I'm sure Hilty was happy, although Extra aired it on a night that they were preempted in New York and many other big eastern markets. So, not many people saw it. Yesterday, People released a statement from Playing for Good that said Paris' trip was no longer happening. One reason is that Scott let the press in too early on the trip, long before any arrangements had been made with the Rwandan government for military security, and safety. As Maria said, "This is Rwanda, not Miami"... arrangements need to be made first including immunizations and shots. Scott Lazerson told me that he recently left Playing For Good because he had not been paid since August. An hour ago, I asked him if he was still going to Rwanda. He said that he was indeed at the end of November. I asked if Paris was going to. He said, "She's 100% invited". He would not say more than that. Now that Scott is on his own, likely the only way Paris can go is if she pays for the trip herself. Posted by Billy Bush at 7:30 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Iggy-Gate: Is There A Real Winner? October 18, 2007 Portia signed the contract for her and Ellen.... The contract states that if the home situation doesn't work out, the responsible owner must return the pup to the adoption agency. Also, that all children in the home must be at least 14 years old. Little Ruby is 12. Statistics show that one half million adopted animals end up in shelters in their lifetime, hence the stringent policy. So, contractually forbidden to redistribute Iggy the dog via her own discretion, Ellen did it anyway. Is she saying that in HER and Portia's situation the contract should not apply? She may be right, when you look at the case realistically. In fact, it's become pretty clear to me that Iggy would have been happy in the home Ellen found for him. But, have a few pups been misappropriated by people who couldn't deal with it in the past? It's at least imaginable. So, it's understandable that this adoption agency would stick by the book and choose to follow their own guidelines, no exceptions. Less headaches. Fewer bad adoptions. Let me ask you: If you know that you'll have to take a puppy back to its cage at the adoption center if "it doesn't work out", might that potential guilt force you to make as close to certain as possible that it WILL? Nobody wins in this one. Iggy the dog was happy with Ellen's friends. Now he's been uprooted again. Ellen has ultimately stated that her signature isn't final. The adoption agency, Mutts and Moms, looks ridiculous for uprooting Iggy from what seems like a true winner of a home. They could have inspected the new home and ultimately agreed to the new arrangement, and maybe received some PSAs in return for giving Ellen an "out". The only possible silver lining here is... Is Iggy happy NOW? Posted by Billy Bush at 11:35 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry A Birthday With Julia Roberts October 13, 2007 I am 36 today. But I feel young, vibrant and sexy. Last night, I interviewed Julia Roberts at the American Cinematique Awards. . . . I found myself hoping to be charming so I could hear that explosive laugh at least once. Man, what a laugh. It's like fuel in the engine. Anyway, her publicist Marcy tipped her off that it was my birthday, so without hesitation she walked up to me and said, "Happy birthday Billy!" and then kissed me on the lips. Those lips are like pillows. Beauties. I told my wife about it this morning. Julia Roberts is absolutlely her favorite actress. My wife kissed me in kind and said, "now I've sort of kissed her too." Hahaha . . . Now, to others who want to kiss Julia through the transitive property, I'm going to have to ask you to stay back. These lips are for Sydney (and once a year, Julia). On a small analytical note however, that's Julia. It was her big night and she thought of me in that moment. She's not self-infatuated at all. She's fun and her most of her outer beauty is a refection from within. A cool chick. Posted by Billy Bush at 4:36 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Worn Down By Puppy Love October 11, 2007 My daughters have wore me down... they have done this twice before and that is why we have two cats running around our house. On Sunday, we have a puppy coming to join our family. I think the girls want to name her Sandy. The name of the breed is too embarrassing to say (it just sounds very emasculating), so I'll say it starts with an "sh" and ends with a "oo." The truth is my wife is making these moves and using my daughters as deal closers. After all, what kind of dad says 'no' to his 3 excited, little girls over a puppy? Not this guy. Now, if I hear any pining for a pet pig, my foot is coming down. Posted by Billy Bush at 12:59 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry How A 'Smile' Can Change A Life October 7, 2007 A tremendous night in Guadalajara spent mingling with donors and then dining and having fun at a huge Mariachi restaurant. Different bands, sometimes 25 deep, would take the stage while revelers celebrated. It was loud and fun. Dr. Bill Magee, the founder of Operation Smile, and a true humanitarian, showed us you can help serve the global community, and still be the life of the party. We are up early and heading back to the hospital to check in on our overnight patients. I followed two boys through the whole process, from beginning to end. Oscar and Juan...both babies. What is amazing is how quickly I bonded with them and how excited I am to see them. Twenty minutes later... I just saw my boys, Oscar and Juan. They are complete. Their parents are so happy. I told both moms, Guadalupé and Mariza, that their boys are beautiful BUT that they were beautiful before too. I sincerely mean that. These precious little babies glow from within... My heart has been moved. These women have allowed me passage to their babies. That means more than anything.... that trust is very special. I told them to send me a letter when they fellas get married. The truth is, now they will. (Crying again) For more information, visit OperationSmile.org Posted by Billy Bush at 1:33 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Spreading 'Smiles' Across The Globe October 6, 2007 What an amazing day in Guadalajara with some amazing plastic surgeons from around the world. I have never been more proud to be a member of Operation Smile's Board of Governors. Put yourself in Guadalupé's shoes. This quiet woman traveled 9 hours by bus to get her 3-month-old son, Juan, the cleft lip surgery he needed. I am there with a camera. I spoke to her at length and soon she became comfortable with me...The Founder of Operation Smile, Dr. Bill Magee, did the surgery on her son. When she found out it was him she became emotional. Parents are not allowed into the O.R....you can imagine the various reactions to seeing your child anesthetized and operated on, so it's a good thing. But during this perfect surgery, I kept thinking about her. She was upstairs with her husband, José, no doubt a nervous wreck. José's brother died at 3 years old from a cleft lip and palette. His mother did not know what to do with this child who was so facially deformed, so she did nothing but attempt to breast feed the baby. The child died of starvation. José and Guadalupe found their way to Operation Smile through Mexican TV and they made the journey to save their son's dignity. I updated Guadalupé by telling her that in the O.R. I could 'almost hear the voices of angels because things were going so well'. The tears swelled in her eyes and joy crept in. This photo is of mother, healthy son and me at the end of a very long day. You will see this unfold on Access Hollywood next week. It will move you as it has me, Molly Sims (Peru), Jessica Simpson (Kenya) and many other people who have stood in the O.R. with these amazing docs. On a personal note of man-shame...I have cried more than all the moms combined. I just cannot help it. Posted by Billy Bush at 6:50 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Billy & Jessica Simpson Show Off Their Best 'Smile' October 6, 2007 The Operation Smile Silver Anniversary Gala was a big success. The Beverly Hilton was full of laughs and tears...the best kind. Jessica Simpson blew off the teleprompter and ended up teary eyed when reflecting upon her mission to Kenya. Nobody knew where she was going... She burst out into 'Amazing Grace' and then offered an off the cuff prayer for all the children in the world suffering from cruel facial deformities. It was a heavy moment. Organizers were freaking out as to whether she'd find her way out of this award introduction. As the Emcee, I advised, "move the prompter to the last paragraph so she knows where to go in the end". They did. She wasn't finished yet. She prayed on stage in front of all those people a deep prayer. She sang acappella beautifully. She wore her heart on her sleeve. It was not just good. It was great! That took courage and it was fantastic. Nobody has really heard from Jess publicly in a while. It made the whole moment more impactful. I think of another girl, about her age, that could use some time away from cameras, some prayer and, frankly, some accapella in her performance. 5:53am local time in Guadalajara, Mexico. Bumpy bus ride from the airport to the hotel...nobody slept on the plane but for the last 30 minutes. Our Operation Smile mission begins in 4 hours. Rally time. Posted by Billy Bush at 2:30 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Shooting Down Miley Cyrus' Pregnancy Rumors September 27, 2007 I'm on vacation but I did relent and check my blackberry. I read a press release from E! News trumpeting their Miley Cyrus red carpet interview tonight where she shoots down pregnancy rumors. WHAT???? What in God's great name has the world come to that a 14-year-old girl, no matter how famous she is, is not impervious to such grotesque slander. Is anyone else outraged that the innocence of a 14-year-old girl can be so easily sacrificed? I hit "reply all" to my people on stuff expressing my outrage...I called it shameful in every way...even covering it. Then I got several emails back...."Billy, it's our lead story tonight". Gulp. To each I responded that I still felt it was wrong. To my beloved friend and Executive Producer Rob Silverstein, I wrote this: It's gutting. This is too far. Children pregnancy rumors, which are so obviously false, should not make our air. Shameful. If I were there I would NOT do it. She's 14... 14!!!!!!!! You know, you could do a "shooting down the rumor" story on anybody and any thing...you have to decide what's tasteful and what is clearly not. Rob sent me the written copy of the piece that was scheduled to air...it included Miley's hurt and Miley's mom voicing outrage to our camera. She spoke of the purity ring Miley wears and that she is committed to celibacy until she is married. I have three daughters...that's a kid I want my girls looking up to and thankfully they do. I think it's good that the words of Miley's mom are out there. I'm just very sorry they had to surface in reaction to a new low in gossip. Posted by Billy Bush at 6:57 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Dish Of Salt At The Emmys: Blog 1 September 16, 2007 1:00 -- Just arrived to the Shrine. It's pretty hot here but not as bad as last year. I'm still on a high from the Rascal Flatts concert I went to last night. In my sixth row center seat I felt like Gary LeVox was singing right to me. It was great except for the two drunk girls in front of me making out with random guys. Not cool. Have some respect for yourself. 2:30 -- I've just gotten up to the Tower where I have a bird's eye view of all the action down below. The red carpet is officially open and ready for stars to start showing off the hard work they put into getting ready. Hair, makeup, trainer, botox. 2:36 -- Eva Longoria arrives in a short metallic dress. This is shocking to me because she is normally one who comes much later. 2:38 -- Can anyone tell me who Phoebe Price is? I spotted her at several Emmy suites this week borrowing diamonds and stuff. Everyone was sucking up to her but I have no clue who she is. 2:39 -- Entourage star Rex Lee arrives. He goes to the opening of an envelope. Seriously I see this guy at every event. 2:40 -- Lisa Rinna arrives looking stunning in white. Billy Bush claps for how beautiful she looks. 2:45 -- Becki Newton is standing right here next to me on Tower with her cute husband. I'm trying to get her to talk to me after she does E's live pre-show which is right next to me. Denied! It's tough here up on the tower. 3:02 -- The mafia are here. Tony Sirico, Paulie from the Sopranos arrives followed by some hitmen. I kid. 3:02 -- Entourage star Perrey Reeves is among the first ladies down the red carpet. She's wearing a low cut white dress and stripper looking heels. On a side note, nearly two hours later she was still working the red carpet winning the award for celebrity who spent the most time shilling on the red carpet. 3:11 -- Poor Conchata Ferrell from "Two and a Half men." She told me on Friday night she is always terrified of the Emmys because she feels like the girl at the prom nobody talks too. Fortunately, a few people do talk to her but not many. 3:29 -- So, I'm obsessed with this woman who I think is Mariska Hargitay. I saw Mariska on Friday night and she had super short hair. This gal ended up being the date of the dad from "Ugly Betty." Either I need more Lasik or this tower is way too high up. 3:30 -- Ali Larter is the first of the ladies in red except for myself. Kate Walsh, Mary Louise Parker also rock the red. 3:42 -- Jaime Pressly arrives at the same time Jerry Ferrara does from Entourage. She looks great considering she just had a baby! I love the St. John dress. It's different than any dress I've seen at the Emmys. She says she wanted to do Hollywood glamour. 3:43 -- Kyra Sedgwick wears basic black, which is disappointing to me because she usually is one of my favorites. 3:52 -- William Shatner's got the right idea, making calls on his cell phone to pass the time between interviews. 4:05 -- Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell win the award for tallest couple on the carpet. They are hard to miss. The crowd loves the flapper dress. 4:11 -- Kelsey Grammer gives a great big hug to "The Office" actress Melora Hardin at the same time someone is stepping on his wife's dress nearly knocking her over. 4:15 -- So, apparently Kate Walsh has been blabbing all about her wedding in all her interviews! If you read my blog on Friday you'll know why I'm annoyed. She looks beautiful though and I've forgiven her. 4:18 -- Ellen DeGeneres shoots everything with her own personal mini cam. Obviously this has to be for her talk show. 4:30 -- Strangest moment of the night when James Gandolfini meets porn King, Ron Jeremy. 2O bucks to the first person who can tell me what he is doing at the Emmys.4:35 -- The red carpet is supposed to be closed by now but stars keep coming fast and furious. Late stragglers include Teri Hatcher and half the cast of "Grey's Anatomy." Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey and Sara Ramirez all arrive late. Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson run in late too. 4:45 -- Paula Abdul is officially the last star on the carpet. Half the crews have already broken down. Did she arrive late to avoid the press or because she spent too much time getting ready? Probably the latter. 5:35 -- Terry O'Quinn comes back to the press room. "I thought as soon as this award is over, I get to go to the bathroom. 5:42 -- Jaime Pressly tells the press room she has been in this business for thirteen years and seems almost bitter rather than "overwhelmed" as she claims. She perks up talking about how she just had a baby and now has to play pregnant on "My Name Is Earl." She has a good luck charm with her tonight in her purse, a necklace her friends gave her. Posted by Billy Bush at 9:21 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Dish Of Salt At The Emmys: Blog 1 August 10, 2007 Zac Efron is positioned to enjoy a Leo sized career. First off, he is balanced and aware of the pitfalls fame offers. He is multi-talented. He is both good looking and nice. I asked Zac if he felt the pressure to do a heavier, more dramatic film next, given that his most recent big screen film was 'Hairspray'.... not that far off from HSM2.... he acknowledged that as a good idea. What was most telling, however, was that he did not feel he had to retreat from this 'High School Musical" phenomenon. If they do a 3rd movie it will be on the big screen first and if the script is right and all the other principles agree, he'd be wrong not to. He seems to understand that an "all for one" approach is the way to go. If Zac held up the film because he demanded much more money or he went another way creatively, he could risk alienating a huge fan base of kids. He's not that guy and I'm pretty sure of it. To be truthful, I have seen 'High School Musical' at least 5 times.... my children love it and I love it, so I have become a fan too. I believe we won't need to brace ourselves for upcoming disappointment. Zac lives in a condo fairly close to "Access Hollywood". Like the rest of the cast, he signed up for 'HSM2' before anyone realized the huge success of the first movie. 'Hairspray' he accepted for the opportunity to go big time so they likely got him for a song. In short, he is not yet, but surely going to be...LOADED. Will he remain the same humble, balanced kid? I say 'yes'. FOR PHOTOS FROM THE 'HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2' SCREENING, CLICK HERE Posted by Billy Bush at 6:22 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'Waitress' Serves Up Raw Emotion August 9, 2007 I just watched 'The Waitress' starring Keri Russell on the plane. If that is a "chick flick", I wear hanky panky's. There is nothing I like more than a movie that makes me stop, think, reflect, be thankful and grateful, self loathe for a minute....you get it. I left this movie blown away by Keri's performance. I also left feeling validated that I am a good husband and have a happy wife and best friend. I am relieved that Nathan Fillion (Firefly) has landed in a great movie, because he was great too as the sensitive, stumbling doctor who teaches her to expect and accept only considerate love. Man tears welled in the eyes...they did not hit the cheeks and roll. I also loved 'The Bourne Ultimatum'. It was so well shot and acted...the timing was brilliant. Action unsurpassed. Director Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon are tops. The Waterloo station scene blew me away. I cheered out loud twice. And Damon's the kind of guy you root for. Great actor, great guy. So, I amend: I'm cinematically androgynous. That's a good thing. Posted by Billy Bush at 10:24 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Breaking The Latest On Lindsay July 27, 2007 The Lindsay Lohan story is everywhere. My NAME is everywhere due to breaking her claim of innocence. I am feeling exhausted from the story because it's sad. Mom and Dad Lohan are so deeply divided it seems like nothing is salvageable. Dad is not going away so unless Lindsay goes for a cease and desist order that forbids him from talking publicly about her, they all need to meet, commit to one another's individual well being, and give this kid the chance she needs. I am conflicted covering the story because I believe in faith and family...I also believe those two things could save her. My view. With every bit of information, the story deepens. I'd be ok if nobody involved would talk. I would NOT be ok, if they talked to someone else and not me. Lindsay and her family have been in our family prayers...if that's being too close to the story and that makes me a soft journalist, then I'm guilty. I believe in compassion, especially when young people are involved. I'm not so sure I'd be 'ok' if I were 25 and doing this job in this town. In reality, I am fairly well known from being on TV every night, and as a result, I run into MY fair share of people wanting to be my "friend". One can see how it's an addiction of its own kind. Lindsay is impressionable and, it seems, incapable of weeding out the bad. I'm glad I'm 35 and have gone through the prime developing years away from the lights. And I hope she rises up and conquers her situation. She is, in so many ways, on her own. Posted by Billy Bush at 2:16 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Interviewing Isaiah July 21, 2007 There are handlers and higher ups from other companies who are very upset with me over Friday's Isaiah Washington interview. I pressed Isaiah about the fact that Patrick Dempsey holds the key to his redemption. Remember, on 'Ellen', T.R. Knight stated clearly that Isaiah called HIM the 'F-word'... (I'm not saying it...not even THINKING it). Isaiah, as you know, vehemently denies it had anything even remotely to do with T.R. He has said several times before my interview that T.R. wasn't even THERE. Patrick was the other half of the argument and he knows exactly what was said. Isaiah got fired and maybe he deserves it, but again, Patrick knows. And Isaiahsays they are on friendly terms. My point to Isaiah was "If you're telling the truth, how could Patrick keep his mouth shut?" "What kind of friend does that?" It's a good point and I stand behind it. My only regret is that due to time on our show (always an issue), in the edited interview we went straight to the outrage and it came off as if I was berating Patrick. Not the case. I should have fought for the extra time. What I was doing was asking Isaiah why HE wasn't hopping out of his chair over this. Isaiah said Patrick looks out for himself. There must be more to this story because Patrick Dempsey is definitely a good guy. I've had great laughs and moments with him. If he were running, I'd vote. T.R. is also a great guy from what I can tell. Kate Walsh is a friend and she loves him. On that note, I am quite sure that Isaiah is difficult on the set...a perfectionist that compares himself to others. It's divisive, but frankly, this town has plenty of difficult actors. The legends are there. He means well. So, in summary, some secrets are buried. Many people feel I should have let sleeping dogs lie. My feeling is at the heart of it, I did the right thing... On a much lighter note: I just saw 'Hairspray' and little Nikki Blonsky is adorable. Her opening number is fantastic. Travolta is terrifying...but funny. Judging by the theater very young female attendance, Zac Efron should have a box office bonus built in to his contract. He's a killer with the ladies and a huge star whose only going to get bigger. The real star of 'Hairspray' is the casting director...perfect in every role. Amanda Bynes and James Marsden were great. Walken and Latifah too. Michelle Pfeiffer and Travolta were brilliant and Nikki Blonsky...what a doll! People were dancing, quite literally, out of that theater. A work of art and joy. Posted by Billy Bush at 10:25 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Deconstructing Posh, And A 'Grease' Fan Experience July 16, 2007 A lot of people have been saying things like, "I thought Posh was such a bitch... she seems cool." For the record, and I can't always say this, I saw the self-deprecating, fun side of her when I watched her and David get interviewed by Ali G on the British version of his show. It was hysterical and Sacha Baron Cohen went WAY over the top with inappropriate questions and she handled them all with humor. She was fun and wild. David was embarrassed and sheepish. I knew she was cool. Not only that, she is a good mom and her children are well mannered. She has the potential to be the perfect celebrity: one who is sexy, risqué, exotic and LOYAL to her spouse. Yes, all with her husband. I have a quick story I have to share. On my last day of vacation in a little town, I went to an Italian restaurant. After dinner, the server corked our bottle of wine so we could take it home. She left it on the table. At the table behind me, I heard a group of New York accented guys talking about Broadway shows they were dying to see. Oddly. They mentioned 'GREASE' was the one they most wanted to see because of the NBC reality show that found the two leads. I couldn't resist: I stepped over and said 'Hi.' They loved it; I took photos with them, had a couple laughs and left them charmed and shocked. My wife and I chuckled on the way out to the car. I left the half bottle of wine on the table. I went back for the wine (it was expensive) and when I returned it was gone. The server had a horrified look on her face when I asked for the wine. Finally, she managed to tell me that Paulie and his Broadway loving buddies had told her that I insisted they have it. I looked over and there they were, sucking down my vino. Paulie caught my glare and buried his head in his hands. His buddy next to him, noticing the kitchen workers coming out to watch the train wreck, motioned frantically for me to come over. When I did he pulled a 100-dollar bill out and begged me to accept in lieu. I called the server over and ordered a new bottle of the same wine and slapped it on their bill. They apologized a hundred times. I laugh Posted by Billy Bush at 4:43 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Isaiah vs. Paris June 8, 2007 It has struck me that due to conduct, some big media companies have let go of some high profile people. Don Imus was released. Isaiah Washington was dropped. Mel Gibson had a deal for a TV series event pulled. This all happened because the actions of these people did not match the principles and mission of the parent companies. Some companies that have dismissed certain people for one reason have protected others for other reasons. At no point in all of the Paris Hilton drama have her actions endangered her job, as far as I can tell, on her TV show. It just launched a new season. This attention is marketing and promotion you can't buy I guess. Is it naive to state that it seems to be mostly about commerce? Probably, but its interesting. That said, the one person who has shown true sorrow for their missteps, in my opinion, is Isiah Washington. He has filmed PSA's for GLAAD and publicly apologized, sought treatment and counseling to authenticate it, and he was axed today. He let out a statement that said he was 'mad as hell' and that he 'wasn't going to take it'.... I can understand that. Posted by Billy Bush at 11:12 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Baca Vs. Sauer -- & Paris The Political Football June 8, 2007 Just after 3:30 PM, PDT and the highly scrutinized LA County Sheriff Lee Baca is at the podium and taking questions. His reputation on the line, he is defending his decision to release Paris to home confinement. He is doing a good job. Baca spoke at fair length about overcrowding and the need for cell space. I think everyone accepts that as a legitimate reason to send Paris home. She has got to be one of the least threatening people to ever be behind bars. The problem he faces is that several hours after Paris left jail, the spokesman for the Sheriff spoke only about 'medical' purposes. He specifically stated it was not an overcrowding issue. Is the Sheriff's department changing their tune to one that everybody can sing or is he adding important information to this case? I think I speak for a lot of people when I ask, 'What on earth is this psychological problem, termed 'severe' by the Sheriff, that she can't be in jail but she can quite easily be on every red carpet, club scene and late night gig she chooses?' Paris is a partier. Whatever medication the Sheriff claims she takes for her mental health problems certainly mix well enough with other substances. She is constantly out and partying... this all adds up to a strong feeling of disingenuous dealings by her lawyers. There is a definite crossfire here between Sheriff Lee Baca and Judge Sauer... Sauer is taking the hardline. He does seem to want a make an example of her. Baca is coming off as sympathetic. He has insinuated that the only special treatment Paris is getting right now, is her new stiffer, longer sentence. He may be right. But... this is now a full blown charade. I do believe Hilty's sentence from the onset appeared too stiff.... I am not alone, although I did and do agree that it was appropriate to reprimand her because she continually raised her nose at the law. Her commitment on the MTV red carpet to serve her sentence with dignity and to be a 'good example for others' was clearly contrived and rehearsed, but it may have garnered her some much needed sympathy. Her early release yesterday erased all of that. It seems to me that this is a matter of getting the right doses of whatever alleged meds she's on... if you can party all night with that correct dosage, you can be alone in a small place too, unless she has been clinically diagnosed as claustrophobic to a dangerous degree. One thing that may work to Paris' advantage here is the seemingly unilateral attention to this story. The more the story is in our faces the more people will feel absurd for taking it all in. Then, they'll want it to go away. Posted by Billy Bush at 8:12 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Our National Paris Obsession June 8, 2007 I'm on set and cameraman Kev just told me the space shuttle launches in 4 hours. Thanks Paris, I had no idea. True, that in this current Paris obsessed news cycle, I was unaware that America was returning to outer space. Is there any chance I went to sleep a few days ago and woke up on another planet... one where a delinquent socialite garners much more attention than war, NASA, missing persons, immigration law discord and setback... and on and on. I perpetuate this material every night, but my show is called Access Hollywood... It's in the title; this is our niche and has been for the last 11 years, back when Dennis Franz' "backside" stirred opinion on "NYPD Blue." There is national outrage? Is it mostly justified because people honestly feel that her "re-assignment" further disenfranchises other inmates who aren't given that option and may have medical issues too? Is it more that people just want her put down and punished? I think the latter prevails. There is a part of me that resents Paris for what she has given to society - sex tape, racial slurs on the Web... her main body of work is 'The Simple Life,' a reality show that derives its laughs from her mingling with the under class. Ironically, it's partly her perceived detachment from reality [and everyday people living in it] that causes much of the vitriol. It would be so much easier to rally behind her if she were even minorly known for giving back or charity of some kind. That's her biggest problem in this PR/image battle she is losing. She comes off smug. As for the news media, this is a terrible day. Matt Lauer begrudgingly covered a little of this story this morning on the "Today" show. They'll be devoting more time to it tomorrow morning, I am 99% sure. Two out of the three major network news anchors have caved to the story. Brian Williams is standing on an island and I applaud him for it. If he falls behind even Katie in the ratings and STILL doesn't mention her name, I'll start a cult devoted to him. This story has never been worthy of media outlets that call themselves NEWS... until, maybe, now. This is a perilous time in our culture. The frenzy and obsession with this poisonous young girl is borderline dangerous. This country must keep its guard up!! I'm imagining office workers at the State Dept. or the Pentagon with small TV sets and computers tuned in to this story... I don't know that, but it seems everyone else is. I am afraid for Paris mentally. If in fact she is on medication that is normally prescribed to schizophrenia patients, to take advantage of its side effects (I believe this to be true but got a "no comment" from her publicist), I think being off it or exposed to smaller doses could cause a harmful panic. I hope Paris is not part of this quick to take meds culture that patches all problems with meds. I'm not as enthusiastic as Tom Cruise on the topic, but I do have a fear that drugs are being prescribed more and more these days to deal with insecurities, fears, loneliness etc that have always existed. There are bigger issues beneath this Paris Hilton charade... of health, race, media culture and more that stem from this socialite's saga. I wish the news outlets would leave this to us. It does not need to be a 24-hour watch. Posted by Billy Bush at 4:46 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Front & Center For The 'Ocean's' Invasion June 6, 2007 Last night, the big time, A-list, Hollywood premiere was back on center stage. The Hollywood premiere of 'Ocean's Thirteen', with stars that can still draw thousands of fans, force helicopters into the sky and shut down the blvd. It was a night reminiscent of Howard Hughes' glamorous 'Hells Angels' premiere in the same spot over 70 years ago. It's almost as if George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Angelina, big stars who are far better known for their talent and charity from Darfur to New Orleans than anything else, brought the cameras back in focus on purpose... you know, away from the young destructive celebs that have dominated the news cycle as of late... its all been so depressing. Of course, in reality, it was just good timing; this premiere was planned months ago. Simply put, the 'Ocean's' crew gave us a reason to celebrate GUILT FREE. I say let's do this again. Posted by Billy Bush at 10:10 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Paris The Role Model? June 5, 2007 Last night as I went to bed in my soft big bed, I couldn't help but think of Paris Hilton and her family...honestly. Soon she'll be adjusted and comfortable... The fears of prison life behind her, a whole band of prisoners having pledged their devotion to the ways of 'Hilty'. But for this moment, she was a 26 year old, child of tremendous privilege in a 12' x 8' cell trying to sleep. She is not a model citizen. In my opinion, the constant attention her antics attract, are worth shielding your children from. (Yes, my children do not watch my own show). But these first few nights have got to be gutting, lonely, scary and accompanied by all sorts of "commitments" to become a different person. I bet Paris is a truly sweet young woman right now. She is stripped of all her securities and relying solely on herself. I imagine she is at her most humble. If THAT girl re-enters society later in the month and maintains it, she could be a role model yet. I am a conflicted man, and thankfully, I'm not the final word on this show's content. But last night, we had a big night of ratings thanks indeed to 'Hilty's" weekend which was capped by checking in to the slammer. Tonight, the Hilty update will supercede Brad Pitt and Clooney on the show. Do we all need our heads examined? Maybe, but the viewers decide a big night of ratings. Posted by Billy Bush at 4:34 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Stars Stumping For Foreign Goods May 29, 2007 This morning I left Cannes very early to catch a flight home. As we drove I noticed more examples of what is a most common trend: Celebrities doing foreign print campaigns. Do you recall the character played by Bill Murray in 'Lost in Translation', who pimps himself for some kind of after dinner drink brand all over Japan? Well, there's a little bit of that guy in so many of our celebs. George Clooney on countless billboards, posing almost identically to the Bill Murray character, for Nespresso (caffeinated hot cocoa maybe?). Clive Owen giving his best debonair for 'Hypnose' cologne. Demi Moore for Helena Rubinstein face sculptor.... Tim Burton for Samsung. I remember seeing Ben Affleck and Brad Pitt both striking it sexy on a Paris subway years ago... From sunglasses to watches, cologne and skin creams, they're everywhere but in America it seems. This strategy must mean we (Americans) are too judgmental or the fear of over exposure at one's base (home country) looms too large. Whatever the reason, I am all but certain that Nespresso is forbidden to run the smoldering coffee ads here in the states...would George laugh about them? He's very good at self-deprecation, but in this case, I am not so sure. Now if I see him modeling Kimonos in Japan, the gloves come off. Posted by Billy Bush at 8:32 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Cannes' Topless Beach Etiquette May 25, 2007 My wife arrived last night in Cannes and I feel whole again. We had a romantic dinner, many laughs a great conversation and the rest would be innapropriate to discuss. Today we are on the beach relaxing. She is reading and I am talking. She hates it when I ramble on when she's entrenched in her pages, but that's me...an observer, social philosopher and all around restless guy. Toplessness on the beach over here is a form of sunbathing. It is not a way of life. Women don't play Kadeema ball bare breasted; they make sure tan lines don't exist with the evening wear. When a woman gets up off her beach chair, she makes sure the top is fastened. They don't swim topless. American guys (other than me) gawk at topless women. To us, breasts are forbidden and a sighting is almost always earned. European guys are mostly immune to the topless bather....seems sad doesn't it? However, I do have this hunch that they know when an American woman has slipped off her top and tried to blend in. She gives off a subtle air of unease and it's whiffed out of the air by a Frenchman and he is there in a second, ready to inspect. The white, sun deprived region is his dead give away. It's issues like this that keep my wife from attempting the risky move. Maybe tomorrow we go to the public beach...she takes off her top and I wear a thong and we keep our mouths shut (me too somehow) so as not to reveal the roots. Best wishes for a great memorial day... Billy Bush, The American Observer Posted by Billy Bush at 1:07 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Jumping In The Cannes' 'Ocean' May 22, 2007 Tomorrow we crescendo with the "Ocean's Thirteen" guys. Matt, George and Brad are now all here in Cannes...a sexy place to promote a sexy movie. I saw the film today and it was fun. Better than "Ocean's Twelve" in my opinion. Bumped into the film's producer Jerry Weintraub on the dock just before he boarded some huge yacht. He rolls like Caesar! Larger than life and with control over all the guys in the movie. "Billy, I'm gonna take care of you baby." I'm holding my breath. Last night after the premier of Angelina's "A Mighty Heart," the paparazzi went bonkers on the carpet. The cast posed for a group shot, then Brad and Angie made their way to the car...then pushing, yelling and shoving began. It was scary from my vantage point high above and across the street. Cannes is great but will be better when my sweetheart arrives on Thursday. Posted by Billy Bush at 2:13 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Brad & Angelina Cook In Cannes May 21, 2007 Brad and Angelina whipped into the center of Cannes for their press conference for "A Mighty Heart". They looked as young and sexy as ever. Brad with a reddish brown hair job and Angelina punishingly exotic and lip centric as ever. They arrived by boat from the Hotel du Cap where their children are playing with Mariane Pearl's kid. Angelina painted a very Gatsby-esque picture of children playing by the oceanside. I do hope they are left alone on the beach and the paps aren't in boats off the coast. Of course they are, but how sad that others' privacy is your livelihood. I draw the line at circling the bandwagon. Tim Vincent interviewed Angelina as she walked in...great 5 questions about life in Cannes, the family's plan here...just a fun quick exchange. But the chaos surrounding their arrival by boat, the walk up the steps to the Palais, the crowds in the hallway as they entered...simply frenetic and wild...as always I guess. Last night a group of us went to Monte Carlo and gambled in the Hotel de Paris. I wore my tuxedo and bet fairly large. I wanted to go Bond style, had to. I won money and then blew it on dinner and dancing. All together it was fun and sexy. I very much miss my wife and can't wait 'til she gets here on Thursday for fun, sun and romance. Big show tonight. Posted by Billy Bush at 11:57 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Buzzing Around Cannes With Seinfeld May 17, 2007 Well the Europeans definitely know who Jerry Seinfeld is. I wasn't sure how many people would show up, press wise, for his "BEE MOVIE" stunt, but it's packed. Jerry is doing a zip line jump off the legendary Carlton hotel, across from the beach...he will end up on a platform that jets into the water about 100 yds. Jerry told me yesterday that he had practiced twice, was not nervous and was ready to go. Even DreamWorks Animation boss Jeffrey Katzenberg made the jump. I hate to say it, but the slim chance of error, is what gathers the masses. Terrible to say. The French have a great invention. You will never hit the buffet the same way again. The plate clip!! (Access producer Adam Jordan shows off the famed plate clip.) Don't you hate it when you're at the buffet line and you're loading up your plate and you have no way of holding your glass? Yes you do and now the clip, glass holder thing, is here to make it all better. This may not be a French discovery but I found it here. The courage award in Cannes goes to our executive producer, my friend, Rob Silverstein. Taking one for the team and helping out the gang in accounting, he is sleeping on a cot in my room. He's the boss!! While the bulk of our crew is a few miles out of town in a great hotel with great sheets...he and I are in a dump with sandpaper sheets. At least I have a king. Posted by Billy Bush at 12:35 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Access Invades Cannes! May 16, 2007 Last night, we took Cannes by storm. Right off the plane and into the old city, which is very romantic (narrow streets, outdoor tables). The food was bad but the '96 Margaux was outstanding. This morning, I hopped up and went for a run with my Exec. Producer Rob. This afternoon I joined the directors of Jerry Seinfeld's "Bee Movie" and watched 30 minutes of exclusive footage. Jerry's voice belongs on a bee. Just does. I am interviewing Jerry exclusively in a few hours and can't wait. He's a hilarious guy and I miss his talent. I wrote him a few weeks ago and asked him for a half hour...he obliged. Key to Cannes: pace yourself. Posted by Billy Bush at 11:11 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry A Real Life 'Mean Girls' May 15, 2007 Friday night I hosted the New York Annual Gala for Operation Smile as I have on both coasts for 3 years running. I am on the Board Of Governors, having been asked to join a couple of years ago by the CEO and Co-founder, Dr. Bill Magee, an amazingly compassionate and selfless man. I do it for him. Now...I have never seen so many beautiful young people in my life, certainly more than the year before. I hosted the live auction, ribbed some people, had some laughs...I had no idea I was in the middle of the new frontier of New York Socialites. I am now on the plane and just read the cover story of the current New York Magazine...it features the outing of 'SocialiteRank', a web blog similar to PerezHilton.com, that wreaked havoc on the young wealthy daughters of tycoons and barons.... by continuously ranking them in 'it' type categories. It has since gone offline, but if you've seen the movie 'Mean Girls', apparently the site, fueled that kind of rivalry, because the girls couldn't help but read, email in, and compete. I get the feeling that many tears have been shed. Newspaper gossip is hurtful, but some of them do research and follow-up. Blog gossip has no fact checking... It's just boundless and brutal. Last night, most the girls I read about in this article, all the fillies in the race, were there. And most were at my table. Rather, I was at theirs. With last names like Hearst, Mortimer, Wohl, these girls are the center of the scene. I had no idea I was sitting in a lioness' den. Naomi Campbell co-hosted with me...did she know? I cover huge stars every day on Access Hollywood. I think these girls assumed I knew them.... because in this microcosm, they are BIG stars. If not for the chance reading of this article, I'd still have no clue. The irony of all of this to me is that a charity event is designed to raise money and awareness for those less fortunate. I do not mean to suggest it doesn't because many of these girls have caring hearts and are helping. But at the same time, in New York, charity raises awarenes Posted by Billy Bush at 3:02 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Free Paris Fizzles Out May 10, 2007 This morning in the local New York City paper there was a blurb about a 'Free Paris' rally in Washington Square Park. I instantly knew I'd be attending. Covering this type of stuff can be intellectually draining sometimes, so when it appeared there'd be a chance to engage, debate and perhaps spar with some Paris loyals, I had to seize it. I am just leaving now as dejected and empty as ever. There were more photographers and video bloggers than "activists" at this event. Three people can't constitute a rally, can they? In short, the cause didn't gain much traction. The worst part is that two out of the three demonstrators were out for a laugh...victims themselves of extreme boredom. In summary, they just don't protest like they used to.... Posted by Billy Bush at 5:33 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Pondering Paris' Plight May 9, 2007 It is hard not to be pleased with the Paris Hilton sentencing of 45 days in county jail. Let it be submitted that It is wrong to derive pleasure from someone else's penalty, especially if you believe that God is always watching and rejects jealousy and vindictiveness. But my sense of relief stems from this: I have three young daughters and its important to me that they learn about consequences. Paris has created a high profile for herself and somewhere along the way it seems an aura of invincibilty crept in. She is surrounded by sycophants, parents included, who are quick to defend and slow to reason. Accountabilty is for others. They say she's a victim of her own high profile, and that she was and has for a long time been singled out by law enforcement because she's 'Paris'. Hmmmm. I think it will be hard to convince people into feeling badly for her stake in life..and they might if she was even partly known for good deeds of any kind. When Paris tried to explain to the judge that the reason she was driving when she had a suspended license was all due to a miscommunication with her "publicist", she exposed herself: what judge can relate to a life where publicists control and plot the course? HE doesn't have one! She lives in a bubble. This woman is famous for a sex tape that circled the internet. She was outraged but then ended up profiting rather quickly. not what most personally invaded victims do? Most people have seen the viral video footage of Paris using racial and homophobic slurs....it goes on and on. She has accrued NO good will. So....That the furtive 'Hilty' is not above the law is not only good to know but a bit of salvation for us all. Will the sentence stand now that Paris' appeal has been filed? She usually gets off, and in the end, becomes even more (in)famous than before....if the judge really wanted to make 'Hilty' feel it, he would have taken the paparazzi away.... Posted by Billy Bush at 11:26 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Clear 'Blue' Skies May 9, 2007 I'm just boarding a flight to NYC. I am flying on Jet Blue....it's got the satellite TV and it's 10 traffic free minutes from my office...it makes more sense than going to LAX for a fancy seat that reclines (almost) all the way. There is another important benefit: The company appreciates the lower cost of my ticket and you never know when you might need to draw upon a little good will....so it's good to bank some when you can. Finally, the former Chairman of Disney, and guy who could afford his own private charter to New York, is on my flight. Yes, Michael Eisner is on board. Is he being 'green'? Is he setting an example for the employees at his web film studio? Or is he just like me, a guy who likes the TV and the efficiency of the Burbank airport? Maybe I'll ask him. He's in front of me. Posted by Billy Bush at 6:51 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'Idol' Efforts & Heather's 'Dancing' Dismissal April 25, 2007 One night down and 'Idol Gives Back' is great. It is a bold endeavor because most often a TV franchise LIMITS its risks as it gets bigger. To risk too much with content is to risk profits. 'Idol' is showing immeasurable confidence and the result is humanity. At the least, this is a courageous undertaking. At the most, this could be an invaluable night of influence on a younger generation to help others. I am voting. Now to 'Dancing With The Stars'.... Heather Mills gets the boot....are you shocked? I am shocked twice over: first, I thought she was a reborn American heroine, an underdog who has recreated herself in America. (Remember, she has been largely vilified in the UK for her adversity with Paul McCartney). To that point, I thought she would have been with us for a while longer. The second reason I'm stunned is that the fact she's out at this stage means to me she was perhaps more of a sensation created by the MEDIA than by America itself. It seems that Billy Ray Cyrus is the one America has bought into....'Cuz he is not that good of a dancer...right? How people really feel about Heather is still unanswered I guess. Posted by Billy Bush at 11:32 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry A Message To Alec & Kim April 20, 2007 Alec Baldwin's words on his 11 year old daughter's voicemail are vile and incomprehensible. No matter how manipulative or subversive she MIGHT be, she is a child and his calmer head must prevail. The choice of language is also inconceivable. But if Kim Basinger did leak the voicemail, her actions reek of wrongdoing. They appear reprehensible. As so often happens in divorce, the child becomes a ping-pong ball. It sure feels that she's sided with her mother, but how much of that is due to gut wrenching, maternal manipulation, we don't know. The way the media can cut into sealed information is precise and I'm afraid we'll soon know. The ex-Baldwins are the polar opposites of the ex-Willis's. Kim and Alec could use a good sit down with Bruce and Demi about "putting the children first." The whole thing is gross and it feels quite clear no matter how loudly either parent screams it, nobody is right or much of a parent. Once again, true values don't shine as brightly as the lights on the marquee in Hollywood. Posted by Billy Bush at 4:56 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry More On Simon's Reaction April 18, 2007 More and more information is coming from the Idol folks about the eye rolled 'round the world last night by Simon Cowell. Notably, Idol producer Ken Warwick said in a conference call with the press that Simon viewed the tape of the incident after the show and was equally horrified. Like I said before, I think what Simon did is understandable because it happened in a moment. Had Simon had a few extra seconds to fully understand what Chris had changed the topic TO....I think he would have let it go. Simon Cowell is a good guy and a great player on TV. He reacted the same way many did in the privacy of their homes.... I'm still not buying the excuse about reacting to something Paula said. Posted by Billy Bush at 8:24 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Sounding Off On The Simon Scandal April 18, 2007 Last night on 'Idol', as soon as Simon Cowell was caught on camera rolling his eyes, I looked at my wife and said, "Its going to be a bad day for Simon tomorrow. He's next". There is a poison in our society, and I can't decide if it's completely promulgated by the media or just 90%. There is an ongoing hunt for the next villain to splash across the front page and sell papers, boost ratings and further satiate peoples' lives with media. Don Imus is breathing a little easier today. But where the corporate entities that employed Imus bailed on him, and with enough grounds, you can bet that no matter how much the Simon "eye-roll" snowballs, Fox will back this guy to the hilt. He's the centerpiece of the biggest television sensation in history and the revenue of Idol is just too central to the corporate earnings report. Today, an Idol producer released a statement. It reads in part: "Simon was not reacting to Chris at that point. He had turned to speak to Paula and didn't actually hear Chris' final comments." That feels untrue to me. Since Simon rolled the eyes after Chris had completed his comments, it felt like a reaction. But here's the thing: I think there are many people who reacted the same way as Simon. Chris Richardson was in the middle of a Cowell skewering that could likely cost him many votes. He changed the subject quite dramatically. If you can make the argument that Simon was insensitive and thus deserves some kind of punishment, then you can also argue that it was an instinctive and innocent reaction that many felt. Remember, Simon is the guy famous for having the guts to speak what others are thinking. The problem here lies within the hastily released press statement that, to me, feels less than genuine. Finally, Simon is a true critic. And a true critic spends his time being "critical". He rolls his eyes all the time. Paula is a cheerleader, not a critic, so she's always fun and sweet. This smells a little like that poison spreading. I think whoever released that press release knew it too. Posted by Billy Bush at 1:54 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Mystery Of Sanjaya March 21, 2007 My piece on the miraculous staying power of "Idol's" Sanjaya Malakar is #1 on AOL's Top 5 this morning. I can't decide if it's funny or horrible that a website, devoted to pushing the next William Hung to the top, may be influencing this race. You hear about this kind of rebel act all the time, but it usually amounts to mostly hot air. That Howard Stern is driving HIS morning armada to follow suit in favor of Sanjaya makes it a little more plausible. Stern's audience is fiercely loyal and I can imagine the idea of crowning a terrible singer is very pleasing.. Last night, Sanjaya showed yet again that he is as amateur a vocalist as there is on earth, but on the upside, he is quite keen: his decision to hug the little girl in tears was very sweet. Compassion and kindness should not win a singing competition but it may rally his true supporters and maybe even some apathetic sideliners. Together with Howard Stern and the ghost of William Hung, he may ride perilously close to the end. On a true positive note, it became clear to me who Sanjaya's loyal fans are as soon as he hugged that little girl. They are little girls who are enamored by his tenderness, and frankly, weakness. There is an age where boys become a little intimidating; where girls are almost the opposition. Sanjaya is totally safe in every way. A meek and totally harmless caterpillar in the jungle. That is endearing to young girls and as the father of three, if I had to choose one of the idol fellas as a "manny", it would be him! And if he'd sing a lullaby to put our toddler to sleep....how cool would that be? Ha Ha. Posted by Billy Bush at 11:39 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Clooney's Early Exit, Raving Over Reese & Follicle Free At The Oscars February 26, 2007 Since I am the host of Grease on NBC, I had to pull major double duty yesterday as I did the interviews at the Governors' Ball for Access. With a little time to kill, I went to my favorite Sunday night haunt, Madeo, for dinner.... Five minutes after bidding farewell to my wife and eldest daughter in order to get to the Kodak theatre in time, George Clooney walked in. Yes, after presenting the Oscar to Jennifer Hudson, George ducked out a side door and went to get the night rolling. My wife, goddaughter, and daughter Josie were still there and took a photo with him. My wife explained to George that she was married to me and DESPITE that, he graciously chatted with the girls and took pics. I am not a fashion guy, but I can say with total assuredness that Reese Witherspoon is the most classic, natural beauty I remember ever seeing at the Oscars. Her straightened hair with the bangs was simple and pretty....no jewels needed when you're that soft and gorgeous. Other than that, I was the one who identified the 'Bald is Beautiful' trend at the Oscars and made the call to run with it big on our show tonight. Jack Nicholson was the centerpiece but add in 'the spoiler' Alan Arkin, big winner Forest Whitaker, the comeback kid Jackie Earle Haley, not to mention Britney and Oscar himself, and you begin to realize.... Bald is beautiful. With that, I hope the follicly challenged out there walk a little taller today. Posted by Billy Bush at 5:25 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'Idol,' Anna Nicole & Cookies February 21, 2007 I watched the first half hour of American Idol and one thing is for certain: the talent is not as good as in years past. Sundance, Brandon and Nick are just very average. In fairness, these are the first 3 out of 24, I'm sure it gets a lot better. Another thing I saw was a promo for the Fox 11 News at 10. First they promo'd "the latest" in the Anna Nicole trial and then Britney checking into rehab. There is a chunk of the population in America that is grossed out by the fact that celebrity news has dominated our culture...the impression is that real hard news - Iraq, the environment, education, health issues, etc. - has taken a permanent backseat. I am shockingly (and of course ironically) one of these people. I am the co-host of Access Hollywood. Celebrity news is our brand; we are simply holding true to our mission statement. TV stations across America subscribe to OUR show to diversify their informational content. At least that was the model. Now, it seems like every newscast, local and cable news, has drunk the kool aid. Thankfully, Brian Williams and the national broadcast evening newscasts are holding out as admirably as can be applied. . Tom Brokaw used to do a segment called "The Fleecing of America"...I wonder, if he returned for a night, would he choose this celebrity hounding as a topic? My point is, with all that's going on in our world, if you're outraged by what's on your news all the time, I understand. But don't be bitter with us....We're like Toll House making cookies. Posted by Billy Bush at 12:49 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Scoring Larry Birkhead & On The Road With Seinfeld February 20, 2007 Once again Access Hollywood lands a big exclusive the digestible way....through hustle and being alert. Tony Potts predicted the arrival of Larry Birkhead and interviewed him as he walked into the courthouse. We compete against people who essentially allegedly pay big bucks for their interviews.... but if you're on, you're on. Way to go Tony! On another note, a celebrity sighting can be fun, but my favorite kind is on the road, car to car. This morning on the 101 freeway heading south, I glanced over to my left and saw Jerry Seinfeld at the wheel. We rolled down our windows and had a brief chat and laugh. We were going very slowly so it wasn't dangerous. But Jerry on the road...classic. He was in an Audi V8 with a friend and looking very stylish in a pair of shades. By his enthused response it was clear Jerry enjoys the highway sighting as well. Posted by Billy Bush at 8:15 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Buzz About Britney February 18, 2007 I woke up yesterday morning to the sound of a chainsaw outside my window. The neighbor across the street clearly felt it was appropriate to begin the tree trimming at 7:30am. Defeated, I rolled over to cozy up to my beloved blackberry. As soon as I turned it on, it started vibrating like crazy-tons of emails were there with the word "Britney" in the subject line. 'Oh no' I thought....what now? One of the emails contained a play-by-play account of Britney's night...details like how she was crying in her car before entering the hair salon. She shaved her head and the photo looks surprisingly good.... although one gets the feeling it wasn't a glamour move. Most of the emails were back and forth from our producers as we prepare for Monday's show. Our coverage is already very detailed and aggressive with all the key players in this melodrama on camera. I sent one email to our senior staff. This is what it read: "I am struck with the sadness of this event. This is a young woman in pain.... feels like she is not physically or mentally safe at this point and I think we should consider that heavily as we take our actions." I don't know if this is true, but that's the way it feels to me. As our competition reportedly spends millions of dollars propelling the Anna Nicole story by lining the pockets of its assorted players, I urge that we use restraint while missing nothing. We love a big story because it means big viewership and ratings, but I do not want any "blood on our hands" in any way. There is nothing to celebrate here and I will pray for Britney and her children. Maybe, she's fine and just went for a wild haircut. But, I don't think so. If it's any consolation, I think her haircut looks pretty good. Posted by Billy Bush at 1:19 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Inside The Anna Nicole Hearing February 15, 2007 I'm watching the Broward County circuit court judge Larry Seidlin holding his preliminary hearing on the Anna Nicole paternity case. It's a comedy session - Judge Seidlin seems far more interested in landing some zingers than anything else. And he's hot, baby. His informal, flippant style with all these lawyers is hysterical. He has a grandfatherly approach...Shecky Greene in the house, a Borscht Belt comic...wait, if you listen the voice....its Arnold Horshack!!!! I'm getting used to seeing Virgie Arthur, Anna's mom, on the scene, but now, thanks to a lucrative arrangement from Inside Edition (I am guessing here, but c'mon) Anna's father, Donald Hogan, appears! Mr. Hogan says he thought the death of his grandson, Daniel, was a mistake...but THIS....this is very different and he's raring to go. My problem with these people and their outrage, sorrow, anger...or whatever their relevant emotion in this national soap opera may be....is that they have been heavily compensated for it. Big money in their pockets all but nullifies their validity. People pay for a service. In other words, the payer knows what they're getting before they pay. The subject. Posted by Billy Bush at 12:46 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Inside The Anna Nicole Hearing February 8, 2007 The news of Anna Nicole Smith's death is awful. Without a hundred percent confirmation on the cause of death, I can only comment on the sadness of her life. For years, I could hear nothing but laughter as she stumbled her way down red carpets or led cameras through her house, while she simulated sex acts on her bed or crawled fully clothed into her tub. She constantly appeared incoherent and over medicated. It was clear to me that she played the fool for public attention and that NOBODY was looking out for HER interests. She reminds me of Chris Farley a little bit. Sadly addicted to chemicals AND peoples' attention. I cannot stop thinking about Anna Nicole's baby, Dannielynn Hope. A child can't choose her parents, but the idea of a baby losing a parent is crushing. I grieve for that helpless baby. As we speak, millions of media dollars are being spent on this catastrophe. It's shocking and newsworthy. It is a small consolation that Anna's child won't be witnessing it. Maybe in a twist of fate, the "Hope" at the end of Little Dannielynn's name is that a loving, well-balanced adult will raise this baby Posted by Billy Bush at 9:13 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Super Bowl & Miami Were Off The Hook! February 5, 2007 The Super Bowl is outstanding. The game is off to a wild start...boy am I glad NBC chose not to air "Grease" today. I'd be listening to the game with a hidden earpiece while doing the show. I'm sitting in a skybox watching the game. Fergie and Josh Duhamel are in a box next to me with Terrence Howard and Vivica Fox. I am in man heaven right now. I just love football. Last night, South Beach was going off. J.Lo and Marc Anthony performed together on the beach at the Ocean Drive party. They were excellent together. A truly great performance. The best party of the night was the CAA party. The line up was very strong - Tom Cruise showed up and that got folks excited. Katie Couric joined the 'NFL Today' guys on set before the game and her hair was teased like she was going out on a date. She looked as glamorous and sexy as I've ever seen her, and some will undoubtedly give her grief for that. It's because they just don't have anything nice to say. Katie should go with what makes her feel great and not worry about what's "appropriate" for an evening news anchor. That's a different era and she's a knockout. That needed to be said. And PRINCE.....wow, he is just the ultimate performer. His mystery and talent make it all worth it Posted by Billy Bush at 2:48 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Where Is The Love? January 18, 2007 Is it feeling a little mean spirited these days? "American Idol" has done boffo ratings for the past two nights, but the tone of the show has gotten much nastier this year. Last night I watched "Beauty & the Geek," a show with even more of an opportunity to beat up on the intoverted, eccentric, "uncool" folks out there. It doesn't. It's got a lot of heart. I am amazed the ratings were the same on night #2 as they were on debut night. And with almost 40 million viewers each night, It tells me there is a tremendous appetite for the bully role. We're gonna get celebrity reactions to 'Idol' in the coming days, because after America Ferrera's speech at the Golden Globes, where so many were moved to tears over her triumph of bringing a plus sized, big hearted girl to such prominence, there was a hint of a different wave going out to the world from Hollywood. Then immediately after America's speech came Isaiah Washington's impulsive and ill-advised use of the word 'faggot' in defending himself.....(Why he chose the world media at a triumphant moment for the cast I cannot understand). Isaiah sat across from Nancy and me right after that outburst and I asked him about it directly. His vehement defense and explanations are what you've seen on over the last 2 nights on Access. (If not, click on it). My gut tells me that, while his comment was distasteful, his intent was to appear color blind and all accepting by just blurting it out there....as if to say, "Come on, Mr. Reporter, no need to skim around the topic. Let's hear it". Isaiah felt the need to say something because apparently the scandal won't go away. I'm in the center of this world every day. To me, it had gone away. Maybe subconsciously he missed it. Nonetheless, what's going on right now feels mean spirited. I'm afraid most people have substituted being honestly offended for dramatic effect and sales. Isaiah needs to honestly explain himself. Those who are not truly upset but have joined the witch hunt for professional gain should stop. Those who are sincerely hurt, I understand and wish you healing. Finally, Lindsay Lohan has gone to rehab and way too many people are pointing the gotcha finger. She is a kid, and whether or not she has been totally truthful about her partying ways in countless interviews (and we all know now...more often 'not'), we should wish her a full, healthy recovery. How anyone could wish otherwise is a frightening prospect. So.....need some love back. Posted by Billy Bush at 7:17 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Globes: A Sedgwick Family Reunion January 16, 2007 There's a great moment in tonight's Golden Globe wrap-up show when Kyra Sedgwick comes into my backstage room. A little back story is in order first: When I was in 6th and 7th grades I went on these spring break ski trips with my best friend and his family. These also happened to be the most mischievous years of my life. Harry Sedgwick and his wife Robin (Kyra's stepmother) were definitely some of the coolest of the parents....I imagine they still are. But Harry and I bonded over a mutual propensity toward immature behavior. One night, I snuck into his hotel room and pulled saran wrap tightly over the open face of his toilet bowl.....in hopes that, in the middle of the night, he would go #1 and it would ricochet all over the walls. Harry Sedgwick got me back by short sheeting my bed. That's how I remember it. So now..... So, Kyra called her dad on our banana phone backstage and it was hysterical. He wanted to make sure I was at least treating HER well. Haha...a classic moment. Also, in the middle of her emotional call to dad, he puts her on HOLD!! She went after him, saying "Dad, where did you go??". It's very funny...Kyra goes after her dad as only a daughter can to her father. In the end, Harry says to Kyra, "Isn't Billy Bush nice?" She says.... "He IS nice...today." Let that be a reminder: a woman only loves ONE man unconditionally....her dad. A priceless moment and now you have the back story. Posted by Billy Bush at 4:13 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Sweet Sound Of 'Grease' January 10, 2007 Yesterday I went to Levels Audio, a state of the art voice over facility in Hollywood that allowed me to watch the relevant video while I put voiceovers on top of it. This was for episode 2 of 'Grease: You're The One That I Want', which airs this Sunday at 8pm EST and PST on NBC. The ironic and slightly incestuous thing about this place was my main competition was doing the same thing in the studio next door. I could hear the voice of Ty Pennington blasting through the sound proof walls. And, as I was leaving, Ryan Seacrest was coming in to do the same for American Idol. The sound guy told me he had never enjoyed a show as much as ours while we were working on it. Several times he'd get sucked into watching it so that he'd forget to hit record on my microphone. I was happy about that. 'Grease' only gets better. After Episode 2, the show goes to Grease Academy (#3) where it truly begins to look and feel like something you've never seen. And Episode 4, on January 28th, is the first of the Live shows....then, I'm sure of it, America will be swept off their feet as the song and dance production numbers get going. The ratings are great and the advance ticket sales for the Broadway production, which starts in July, were through the roof on Monday. 1.3 million dollars in tickets were sold. Grease is going to be a great ride for everyone. Now, tomorrow morning I have my first yoga class. I am the most unlimber man in the world, so it's time to mellow out and loosen up. The producers of Grease have threatened me with having to partake in a number at some point in the show's run... If they're serious, perhaps I'll be ready. Final thought on the Donald's latest move, his open letter to Rosie (via the media)- he has perceived a hole he can exploit. The New York Post wrote today of the rift between Rosie and Barbara. Donald wants to put a match to that so it becomes apparent to people that Rosie fights with everyone. Will it work? I know this, he won't back down. Donald has dealt with union bosses and heavyweights in the construction business for years. He's been called everything and has been threatened in many different ways. Rosie O'Donnell, to him, is sport. So long as she wants to play, he'll go at it like gangbusters. He called Barbara Walters a 'liar', insisting that she told him many negative things about Rosie. If Barbara did, she surely never expected he'd betray her confidence and use her words to incite Rosie. That's a shocking oversight. Only Donald and Barbara know the truth, but one thing we all know: Donald will hold back nothing. Posted by Billy Bush at 12:03 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Slow Road To The Oscars, Part II January 9, 2007 Unlike Forest Whitaker and Helen Mirren, who are the favorites to take home Oscar gold for Best Actor and Actress, there is no clear-cut favorite as to who will take home the Best Picture and Best Director. That race seems to be, at the moment, between Letters From Iwo Jima and The Departed for Best Picture and between United 93 director Paul Greengrass and The Departed's Martin Scorsese for Best Director. With the recent nomination announcement by the Producers Guild of America (PGA), which picks a Best Picture of the Year, and the Directors Guild of America (DGA), which selects a Best Director of the Year, there may be a clear picture of who will win the Oscar. To give you some background - The PGAs and the DGAs are usually a good indicator as to who will be nominated and eventually win the Best Picture and Best Director Academy Award. This year's PGA noms include 3 indie darlings and 2 major studio pictures - Babel, Little Miss Sunshine, The Queen, The Departed and Dreamgirls. The big omission - Clint Eastwood's WWII drama Letters From Iwo Jima, which was an odds-on favorite. Now that's not to say that come January 23, when the Oscar nominations are announced, we won't hear Iwo Jima called out along with a few surprises. One of the surprises that could stir up Hollywood early that morning is the aforementioned 9/11 film United 93. Since the start of the 2006 award season, Greengrass' dramatic look at that tragic flight has snared 11 Best Picture honors. Fun Fact #1 - 3 out of the 6 previous PGA winners went on to win the Oscar in the Best Picture Category. At 10 am this morning in Hollywood the DGA announced their 6 - yes, 6 nominees for Best Director. This year's crop of directors is made up of 5 first time nominees and 1 Hollywood legend - Martin Scorsese (who received his 7th nomination but has never won). The other nominees include the husband and wife team of Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine), Bill Condon (Dreamgirls), Stephen Frears (The Queen) and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Babel). Once again Eastwood's name was not mentioned, all but guaranteeing that Scorsese will be honored with his first ever DGA award and Oscar. Why? Because Eastwood, an award show darling, beat out Martin for the 2004 DGA award and the Oscar that same year for Million Dollar Baby. Another director joining Clint on the sidelines is Paul Greengrass who has already received 5 Best Director awards so far this year. Fun fact #2 (Mr. Scorsese pay attention) - in the past 10 years, 8 of the 10 DGA winners went on to win the Best Director Oscar. Could this actually be Scorsese's year? Will the Academy choose to commemorate those events of 9/11? Only time will tell. Posted by Billy Bush at 7:37 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'Grease': You're The One That I Watched January 8, 2007 Last night's debut of 'Grease: You're The One That I Want' was great. Women loved it. In fact, women in the 18-34 demographic made it their #1 show. I am very excited. Watching the show, I realized how much material didn't make it into the episode. While people got acquainted with "The Dancing Cupcake", there were a couple emotionally distraught souls they missed out on. In one case, it would have further disturbed a young boy who was in pretty rough shape after missing the cut. We learned that it would have made life very hard for him and his well being if we elaborated on his pain, so it was cut...I support that decision. This show is about heart, inspiration and fun. Nobody needs to be left wounded on the floor. My girl Sunshine is the one that stole my heart. Not your typical Sandy, she represented the heart of this show and saying goodbye to her was harder than I expected. I called her "the peoples' Sandy" if you recall and she was a sweetheart full of positive energy and hope. I wish her well all over again today. I hope you enjoyed my little tour of Chicago's north end, home to a huge Polish population, because that is where Grease began. Grease co-creator, Jim Jacobs (the curmudgeonly judge) grew up there and attended Taft High School. That community and school was the inspiration for Grease. Jim was a greaser and his cousin was the guy who was the inspiration for Danny Zuko. In the movie, Sandy Olson was the beloved lead. In the musical before it, Sandy Dumbrowski was her name and Danny Zukowski her man. Jim and I had lunch with his old grade school girlfriend who was the inspiration for the Patti Simcox character....and she's still that perfectly cute and put together girl....now 63. We ate at Superdawg, the drive-in that all the kids went to back in that day. Watching Jim flip through their yearbook together was cute... He still has a crush on her. Only now, so do I. This show gets even better and when the Live shows begin on January 28th, people will be faced with the best thing on TV. Get ready for some awesome production numbers that will get you up on your feet dancing around like crazy. Grease: You're The One That I Watched.....I've re-named it today! Posted by Billy Bush at 4:24 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'Grease,' Matt & Remembering Kelvin January 5, 2007 Just leaving New York now to return home to my family. I've been out shilling my new show Grease: You're The One That I Want on NBC. On that note, I hope people tune in to see this show. It's got a lot of heart and the payoff to the premise is huge. There is no show on television that carries such consequences - America's choices for Danny and Sandy go straight to Broadway and have to carry a major stage production. The drama is there. I felt very lucky to be at the Today Show this morning to promote the show on the day that Matt Lauer was being honored for his 10 years in the anchor chair. I have a ton of respect for Matt. He is not only one of the best interviewers on TV, due to his natural wit and preparedness, but he is a humble and gracious guy. The moments they wheeled back were hysterical and poignant. And at the end of the 8 o'clock hour when John Ondrasik (Mr. Five for Fighting) sang '100 Years' for Matt, my eyes filled (half way thank God) with tears. We should all take a moment to reflect on the valuable moments in life. I choose to Thank God. My thoughts drifted from my friend Matt and his contributions to my beautiful and supportive wife and my daughters and for that moment, I was frozen in happiness. Now, I return to them for the weekend. On the plane I will put the finishing touches on my eulogy for a boy, very close to me, who passed away. His name was Kelvin Montagner and cancer finally wrestled him to the mat. He fought with the heart of a lion and his passing leaves a destroyed family. Amazingly, their faith is unshaken. You may remember Kelvin...I first met him at Childrens Hospital in LA with Eva Longoria. After that meeting he and I stayed in touch. I visited him often. We went to the movies and to Universal Studios...to his house for a homemade Mexican feast...I thought I could help lift him up for the fight and that maybe it would help him win. In the end, Kelvin lost the fight and the only one to gain was me. He taught me more about life and the will to live than anyone ever has. I will cherish his memory and look forward to celebrating his life in front of his family and friends. Rest in Peace and thank you Kelvin. Posted by Billy Bush at 4:16 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Rosie Vs. Donald December 20, 2006 'Twas the week before Christmas and all seemed to be quiet. Then the alley cat of morning chat starts a little riot. I tried to avoid commenting on this latest dust between Rosie and Donald. Both are unafraid to launch verbal attacks, both are publicly pugnacious and both are doing their best to make sure there is no such thing as a quiet week in the entertainment "crap-o-sphere" Donald played a compassionate card when he gave Miss USA Tara Conner a second chance....a smart move that would reap dividends while creating some buzz for the Miss Universe Organization (which could use some). Everyone was happy to let him do his thing and not challenge him.....except the new queen of daytime TV, Rosie. Rosie O'Donnell was willing to publicly label Kelly Ripa a homophobe...unloading a roundhouse on the Trumpster in this case shouldn't shock you... I wonder what Regis will do in this matter....and Kelly. Regis and Trump are close pals and Kelly has already ended up on the bitter end of a Rosie rant. Will he step in and issue some kind of statement? Probably not... Reege is not attracted to controversy, but he must be tempted. Donald called Rosie a ratings loser when he mentioned her "failed talk show".....The View is up in the ratings more than 50% from last year since she arrived to take over the lead role. Donald is a self proclaimed ratings machine...he privately respects her greatly is my guess. Fears her? No, but I bet she frustrates him a little. If it's true that "opposites attract", then the reverse is also true. Rosie and Donald, "Ronald", are ham on ham, no cheese. They are rich, tough, outspoken, fearless....lightning rods for controversy and PR geniuses. Barbara Walters, one of the Executive Producers, tried to issue a "we're all friends...this will pass" statement. As I read it, I pictured her basking in the glow of Rosie's latest play call. 'The View' used to be pretty light. Now, it's straight caffeine. Looking forward to more from these two. Posted by Billy Bush at 8:02 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Britney, Brangelina & Peter Boyle December 13, 2006 It's hard to weigh what will entice people to watch the show. Every day our executive producer makes the ultimate call on the Lead story, the follow up, the one we will tease throughout the show and unveil towards the end. He has a team of trusted senior people who advise as best they can...I am one of them. Tonight's show is the right call...new photos of Brad and Angelina is first, Britney's latest escapade (this time bra-less follows shortly after)...at the end of the 1st block we address the passing away of Peter Boyle. In my heart it's first, but I understand its placement. We chose to wind down the first block with poignancy and meaning: Peter Boyle was a great actor...not an Access Hollywood headline, not even in his death, but, a great talent, father, husband and actor. He was brilliantly funny as the paternal curmudgeon in 'Everybody Loves Raymond', as the big guy in Young Frankenstein and so many others...over 50 starring roles in his 40-year career. He was also my neighbor as a kid growing up in New York. My best friend lived in the same building as Peter Boyle, just down the street from me, and I remember seeing him around and being scared. Not just a famous actor, Frankenstein's Monster!!! I paid him a visit to his house on Emmy nomination morning in 2002. He was warm; his wife Loraine was there and I felt a lot of love in that family. He was FAR from Frankenstein. He joked about me being a terror in our neighborhood park. When I told him the story of our neighborhood bully, Ali, who used to mug me and chase me, he laughed and said it was him!! I admire Mr. Boyle's talent, thank him for making me feel special and feel deeply sad for his wife and best friend Loraine. He did not trump Brit and Brangelina or Paris in our line up, but his image on all of our TV's, was a contribution to society. Now I'm off to Chicago to do some taping for what I hope will be an awesome contribution to TV entertainment: "GREASE; You're The One That I Want', which premiers January 7th. Good for the whole family. Posted by Billy Bush at 10:43 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Thoughts On Bruce Willis, Paris Hilton & Marriage December 8, 2006 Some happy news and some sad news. I will lead with the positive: Last night, I took my wife and my mother-in-law, who is visiting from Mississippi, to Wolfgang Puck's new celebrity soaked steakhouse, Cut. The food was great, the wine was great, Janet Jackson was there lying low at a table for two with a friend. The highlight of the night... and believe me, my mother-in-law has already called back home to Mississippi and told half the town... was Bruce Willis coming over to the table and squeezing into the booth next to her. Mama went nuts. She had the waiter take their picture and Bruce jokingly accused her of grabbing his rear end. It was very funny... he made her trip to LA shine. Now, on a bitter note. I am sick of publicity stunts by young Hollywood celebutantes, especially ones that make a mockery of marriage. Paris Hilton, who is the least respectful person in this town as far as I can see it, was out last night with her Greek male counterpart Stavros and was wearing an engagement ring on her finger... Paris spends her days planning the next way to cause a ruckus. She thrives on being the center of chaos and her means of garnering attention are most often gross. Paris, put on your underwear, take off that engagement ring and get an honest job. Posted by Billy Bush at 4:47 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Musings on Michael Richards, Rosie And Ripa November 22, 2006 LOS ANGELES (November 22, 2006) -- I start getting an anxious feeling when my industry starts projecting an extraordinary amount of grossness onto the American landscape. It's happening right now. Michael Richards, who, until this horrible incident of racial ranting, stood to go down in history as one of the all-time beloved television comedic actors, struck first. His use of the 'n' word towards some black audience members wasn't even the worst of it, but that tirade, incites hatred and conflict: Jamie Foxx told us if he were there, he'd beat Richards down. The two "victims," Doss and McBride, then not coincidentally at all ran into legal opportunist extraordinaire, Gloria Allred, who is "all-green" when it comes to these sensitive matters. The men want to be compensated for their pain. If they asked for a face-to-face apology, I'd be sick if Richards didn't comply. But the idea that money might heal the heart is ill-conceived. It is my feeling that the two men on the receiving end of Michael Richards' venom have lost their credibility and thus my empathy. Rosie O'Donnell taking a swipe at Kelly Ripa, calling her remark to Clay Aiken homophobic, may be opportunism of a different kind. The hunt for ratings in TV does strange things to people. For example, our competition stops hustling and starts writing checks to the morally shy amongst us for their interviews: Anna Nicole, Mary Kay LeTourneau, Heather Mills, Amy Fisher, the Long Island Lolita... you get the point. But Rosie took a conflict between Clay Aiken and Kelly Ripa, one that arose organically, and hijacked it onto her airwaves. If you missed it, with a look of repulsion on her face, Kelly rebuked Clay for putting his hand over her mouth by saying, "...I just don't know where that hand's have been, honey." Rosie called her remark homophobic and that if Clay were "a straight man" or "cute" (ouch), Kelly would not have done that. The ruckus caused quite a stir and probably pulled some eyeballs Rosie's way. It felt to me like an easy but unfortunate route to ratings. Kelly Ripa may sometimes be challenged to cede ground to her fellow interviewer, but a homophobe... no way. So, it's Thanksgiving weekend. Let's come back and let this junk be behind us. Posted by Billy Bush at 4:05 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Becks Misses Tom & Katie's Wedding November 20, 2006 UPDATE 11:04 PM: BRACCIANO, Italy -- Becks [Victoria?s husband, soccer star David Beckham] had a game and had to leave. What a stud. He joined his wife at the rehearsal and left her for the wedding. A gentleman and a stud. No scandal, all gallantry. 10:12 PM: I just got an email that said ?IN TOUCH WEEKLY EXCLUSIVE: TOM AND KATIE WED IN ITALY.? Exclusive? There were tons of media there, everyone reported from outside and to read a piece of junk like that, likely sent from a desk in New York, is ridiculous. There is a lot of bogus info floating around and it will only continue. Please choose your sources carefully. Tom and Katie's publicity team, captained by the great Paul Bloch already put out their press release. It was detailed like it had been written days before and I believe it was: Here's an excerpt: ?The bride carried a bouquet of flowers made by Giorgio Armani including calla lilies wrapped in leaves of galax and steelgrass while the wedding reception included colorful and elegant floral décor accented with red roses.? The reason its so detailed is to prevent these different media outlets from trying to "grease" the caterers and providers for their info. No need. It?s all out there before the reception is even over. This long wedding weekend was executed with military type efficiency. I am impressed and exhausted. I miss my daughters and can't wait to return to my own "fairy tale" bride. 8:05 PM: Italian time: They're married. The word came from inside a short while ago that vows have been exchanged. Let the party begin. Outside, it's begun. 7:25 PM: I have just come down from my position to take a quick walk through town. Wow! It?s packed. Like a gypsy village, candles burn everywhere. People are drinking and eating like it?s Oktoberfest. The police just shut down some band that plugged in their amps and started wiling out the Italian classics. Those castle walls are thick. I doubt they were distracting the ceremony. Nonetheless, the party rolls on as Bracciano, Italy is way beyond its normal capacity. Its 6:34PM...Tom and Katie's wedding is about to go off. As usual this weekend, Jada Pinkett Smith was one of the first to arrive with a big smile. J.Lo and Mark were towards the end, right after Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy. I am hosting wraps for Monday night's show in a perfect spot above the crowd at the mouth of the entrance to the castle. To be truthful, as excited and jazzed up as this town is, the crowd has been kept in suspense and, thus far, is disappointed as no celebs are getting out of their cars to wave hello. The windows are tinted and if not for the bright flashbulbs of the paparazzi, the faces would be hard to see. Finally, a big thank you to those guys. My guess is that the guests will come out and greet the throngs of fans outside the castle when the wedding ceremony is over.... Charles and Diana did. Our coverage will be slick, sexy and packed with information as I partnered up with "The Great Galina" Espinoza from People. Highlite of the day was when a curious Katie peaked through a castle window with Suri in her arms. An indelible moment. Posted by Billy Bush at 4:02 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Katie & Brooke's Bonding November 16, 2006 I mentioned on the "Today Show" this morning that Katie Holmes and Brooke Shields have become friends IN PART because after baby Suri was born, Katie was feeling tinges of postpartum herself and reached out to Brooke. I understand this is a bit of a bombshell, but the source on this one is very strong. It is also a great piece of news. A twist of fate that brings two women together. My interpretation of this is that Katie speaks for herself. Tom, has got to be thrilled, because some individuality in the relationship is a must...just my opinion there. Bracciano is about 45 minutes outside of Rome and it?s cute. The castle is gorgeous and we're having some fun. I've teamed up with Galina Espinoza of People Magazine. She's hot on the details and we're dominating everyone. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:59 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Britney Effect November 7, 2006 We were one minute away from feeding our show to satellite today when news broke that Britney Spears had filed for divorce from Kevin Federline. Obviously that meant a "mandatory refeed" to all of our affiliates. For me, add to that missing a meeting with the producers of my new NBC primetime show "Grease: You're The One That I Want" and voting. My mood noticeably changed from generally upbeat to sullen. Mostly because I do not enjoy feeding this type of story to millions of people, especially when I feel it happens too often. This marriage many felt was doomed from the start - largely due to the track record of the man Britney chose. Kevin, the father of two children already by a girlfriend he left for his current wife, seemed less than ready. I shook my head because I felt marriage was once again being taken lightly.... as if a faithful commitment to honor someone and form a family can be treated like some kind of version of "going steady". It is not something to be taken lightly and it's too easy in this case to feel like it has been. I do not know the details but I get the feeling Britney was hopeful and wanted shelter and security from her intensely scrutinized celebrity life. Kevin never seemed like the rock that wouldn't crumble and maybe the media, in part, is to blame for that.... us included. It is commonly accepted that Britney and Kevin signed a pre-nup. To me that is nothing more than a contract for inevitable divorce. By contrast, Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon splitting is sad because I know Reese a bit and she is a warm person and great mother. To me she is an earnest woman defined by faith and her pain is shared by all who are married. I hate to admit this but Hollywood puts out too much bad energy into the world too often. To be sure, most people in this town and everywhere else enter into marriage thoughtfully, try hard, and for some unpredictable reason, it falls apart. And there are lots of other wonderful things happening in this town all the time - creativity, art...powerful, impactful stuff, but the values that reflect the best in people and families aren't on display nearly enough. Life is a marathon. If your first marriage is annulled after 55 hours and your second barely makes it two years....stop, grow up and wait till you know you are ready. As for Kevin, I think there is a lot of growing up to do. It's unfortunate it has to happen while he's responsible for the development of four young children. Posted by Billy Bush at 10:08 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Talking With Demi November 3, 2006 (November 3, 2006) -- I just interviewed Demi Moore. Wow. This woman blew me away. She is not only flawless in her beauty, and blessed with the most alluring rasp in her voice, but she is convincing. I believe what she says because there is conviction and passion in what she says. Her eyes lit up and stared right at me as I ventured off the topic of the film and into this one-of-a-kind harmony she's created with her current husband and ex. Hollywood is riddled with failed marriages and bitter divorces. Too often these soap opera scenes get magnified by the media and projected onto people in all corners of the country. In only one case that I know of, hers, a failed marriage has given way to one that works, and a mutual respect between all parties overrides all else. Demi was eloquent about Bruce, about Ashton, and believable about how THEY ALL work together. Sit on that this weekend and tune in Monday night. This is the first time she's spoken about this to the best of my knowledge. Also, after Demi and I had finished our honest exchange, Sharon Stone came into the room like a woman on a mission. Entourage in tow, heels loud on the floor. MY OH MY she looks so unbelievably gorgeous -- I almost whimpered. I tell my wife all the time: you're too young. You haven't peaked. A woman in her late to mid 40's is just getting to her best.... when she's seen enough to know what she doesn't want and exudes a glow because she's only selected what she does want. In short, I may have been a tad over the line: Sharon asked me to give her a foot massage. And well.... Goodbye journalistic credibility, hello perfectly manicured feet! More action for you on Monday, that you will not get from another show. Posted by Billy Bush at 10:03 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Michael Jackson Exclusive October 15, 2006 DUBLIN, Ireland (October 15, 2006) -- It's half past four in the morning and I'm making my way to Dublin with Ray. I have spent a fair amount of time in the back of Ray's car in the last 34 hours. He is the driver, henchman for the fellow who owns the recording studio in the middle of no man's land, Ireland. Not only is it a quaint studio built inside the grounds of an old stone classic Irish estate... it's the new creative home of Michael Jackson. And yes, I just conducted the first visit with Michael Jackson since he left the United States in June 2005. First off, let me tell you what this visit is not: It is not a bare all, rehashing of that period of his life. I was prepared to ask him all the questions in the world regarding mistakes made and lessons learned, but trust me, he was not. He asked if 5 minutes of rolling tape was OK in the studio while he "collaborated" with Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas. Ultimately, We rolled for about 40 minutes and I did ask him questions about music and his thoughts for making a comeback. Michael Jackson was nervous and antsy. He was truly torn. He wanted to stay and keep jamming and have some fun, but he also wanted to leave before, from his perspective, he got crucified by another TV interview. Michael's publicist and advisor, Raymone Bain, informed us (me and my Executive Producer, Rob Silverstein - pictured above with Michael and Will.I.Am) that Michael would like to meet us alone, no cameras, at a nearby cottage first. We agreed of course and before long we were seated at a breakfast table in a very cozy, humble stone cottage. Down the spiral staircase he came. First his boots, then his pants... black with a gold stripe down the side, then a velvet jacket with a white t-shirt underneath, then he turned to face us. I admit, my pulse was running high. He is a mythical character as atypical and untouchable as can be. First impression I had was that he looked healthy. Fit. As his new landlord told us earlier, artists come to his estate for the whole experience of getting away... for peace and tranquility. It has suited Michael well, although he does not live there. We stood up, shook hands and began small talk about life... soon, Michael began to make clear what he did not want: an interview. He was just willing to let our cameras roll while he and Will listened to beats and opened the lid to a comeback. I said that we should just go in there and go until he didn't want to anymore. Pensively, he agreed and we started for the door and the 50 yard walk to the studio. This visit is a baby step for Michael. About ten minutes into the session, after I had rolled out several questions, Michael paused and tried to get out. He did not like receiving pointed questions and he encouraged Will to play more beats so we could just roll casually. At the end of the day, we did a little more of both. At one point, I suggested Michael remake 'Thriller' for a new generation... with CD/DVD and Web components, essentially go with what's proven but update with the help of technically savvy producer, Will.I.Am. Michael lit up. Amazingly that was something he hadn't considered. When the music was rolling and he didn't have me asking him questions, one could see sparks of life and energy. He hummed a little and at one point got up and walked to the back of the room where he could move a little to the music... he was almost dancing. Michael was there with his children. I never saw them but the studio's owner, said they were having a ball, playing with his children and enjoying the exquisite countryside. According to the owner, Michael gets up in the morning and makes breakfast for them... usually porridge and fruit. I find myself hoping that Michael's life is as normal as possible. Of course, it isn't. Nobody knows anything about him... does he drive' Apparently, he does occasionally and he even had a cell phone before losing it a day later. There....something normal to which people can RELATE. Again, this was a first step for Michael. He was excited and terrified. It's all about feeling whether he can trust somebody or not. His track record is horrible on that front. Maybe it will improve in regards to us. I am quite sure there is more to come. Posted by Billy Bush at 9:40 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Eva Takes A Tumble October 5, 2006 Not only did Eva Longoria take a tumble off the top step of her trailer on the set of "Desperate Housewives" and fall flat on her back. Not only did that land her in an ambulance and ultimately the E.R., but it's my fault. Yesterday, Eva and I were chatting on the cell phone about a project we are working on together when all of a sudden the line went dead. I called her back an hour later to follow up on the call with information she wanted and it went straight to voice mail. Last night at 8:45pm, lying in bed watching "Dancing With The Stars," the phone rings and its Eva explaining that she fell off the top step of the trailer and may have fractured a rib (slightly) around her back side. She had gotten home a short time earlier and was doing the same... laying in bed watching 'Dancing.' "Sorry, I didn't call right back", she said. Too busy calling 911, I guess. I asked her if I was to blame for distracting her. She said 'Yes'... ... Followed with the big Longoria laugh. Now, to why we were talking. A little boy who has touched both of our hearts is losing a terrible health battle and tomorrow we are turning his house into the North Pole so he can have Christmas before God calls him home. That's all on that. Posted by Billy Bush at 9:40 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry In The Fast Lane With JT September 29, 2006 I have not posted a blog in a while and I'm back for two reasons. I have received far too many complaints from readers questioning my commitment. You are right, it stumbled. Also, I just had an outstanding celebrity sighting on the 101 freeway heading home. I looked into my rearview mirror into the sweet BMW 760Li behind me...the driver looked familiar. A Justin Timberlake look-a-like' No, JT himself talking on the hands free cell phone and looking sharp. I slowed down to let him pass and then pulled alongside and waved. It took him a half a second to realize I wasn't crazy...saw that it was me and got a chuckle. I am quite sure he was laughing at the shear random nature of the event and not the fact that I was driving my BMW 530i. Later he passed me for the last time and waved good-bye. I think he enjoyed the sighting too. They're fun. I hope you did... I'm back. Posted by Billy Bush at 9:31 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Ready For Takeoff September 5, 2006 Just returning from the long Labor Day weekend in Utah and I have noticed a major change in airport activity. The security lines are longer, yet more efficient. A month ago it seemed there were still people who looked shocked over having to remove their shoes for screening. Many had personal items that were in disarray. Now, the shoes are all off and ready, the beverages were dumped and the bags neatly arranged. One by one people filed through in an orderly way. Once inside the departure terminal, the customary long lines in the food court, and most noticeably, Starbucks were bare. I couldn't believe it and five minutes later my wife and I had our non-fat lattes and we were off to the gate. Five minutes after that, we were there and the plane was boarding. Two minutes after that were dumping our barely touched lattes into the garbage...no liquids allowed. It's going to take a lot for people to feel badly for the economic hit Starbucks is going to take over this anti-liquid regulation, but they're feeling badly for themselves I bet. Every paper on board the plane has an article about the new launch of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. She says in the promos we're going to 'make sense of our new world together' (non verbatim). I suggest a story on caffeine deprived business travelers and the impact it has on them and the coffee giant. On another note, Tom Cruise went to Brooke Shields' house last week to apologize for the comments he made about her in regards to her use of Paxil to battle postpartum depression. It's daunting to think, had I never asked Tom to defend his views in light of his friend Brooke's decision to take the drug, none of that would ever have happened. When things stick in the media, it's astounding the impact it can have. My personal thought is that Tom is a good guy and people will forgive....as for the Starbucks depriving TSA, the jury is still out. Posted by Billy Bush at 9:56 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Baby Talk With Jeremy Piven August 29, 2006 Well I'm taking a little heat in the blogosphere (which leads to some radio) for the Jeremy Piven interview at the NBC Emmy Red Carpet Special. Whoops. If you don't know my history with Piven (and who would), it looks like he's repulsed by my line of questioning. I watched it on Tivo last night... I can see that. I asked Jeremy first if he had seen baby Violet since he is working on a movie with Jen Garner now....he said "no." I asked him if he'd seen baby Shiloh since he lives in Malibu, home of Brad and Angie... knowing he'd say "no." I finished with Suri just in case he wasn't on the ledge yet. He commented that I have potential as a human being... good one. Funny, sarcastic and a jab between friends. People are saying I ticked him off and there was tension. I'm sorry, I have to laugh. Piven is a bachelor in his 40's!! Babies are not his favorite topic. We are friends and I knew he'd hate it. In a man's world, that's expressing affection. Problem is, the red carpet is not a man's world. But... people have come to expect the very worst from the entertainment genre. That my line of questioning for Jeremy can ONLY be taken literally and without the "wink" is scary. For Entertainment 101 questions like "You look amazing!!!" (is that a question'), I'm not your guy, but there are way too many places to get that... I am a bit risky by nature, therefore, I will continue to take my hits along the way. BTW, I just hung up the phone with Jeremy. He's shooting "Entourage" episode 19 today and then jetting back to Arizona to continue on "The Kingdom." I told him about this Blog... he laughed and told me to 'hush' so I wouldn't wake up Shiloh. Is that all he cares about''' Posted by Billy Bush at 8:23 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Colin, 'The View' & More July 25, 2006 Under some tough questioning from Matt Lauer on the "Today" Show this morning, Colin Farrell opted to take the Tom Cruise path to shutting down the interviewer....tell him repeatedly and forcefully he's being "glib". Matt had to chuckle as the clear reference was crafty and funny, but in the aftermath, will this become an ongoing "out" method for celebrities under fire' I think so, especially if the interviews are being conducted in front of an audience, as they are these days outside on the plaza. The audience is essentially watching a tennis match - whoever makes the big play and ends the rally gets the crowd approval. Debbie Matenopoulos returned to 'The View' after being fired seven years before. She came back and 'kissed the ring'. That is to say she returned gracefully and got a big cheer. It would have been foolish to play up a beef with Barbara Walters. Instead she thanked the queen for giving her an entree into the TV business. A great PR play for Debbie today...as for her comment that her new E! Show is "like a hipper ET or Access"....you were doing so well!! We are planning our EMMY pre-show to air on NBC from the Emmy Red Carpet and it will be one of the best pre-shows you've ever seen. That's a promise. Posted by Billy Bush at 7:57 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Celebrity Splits July 18, 2006 Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro are the latest in a seemingly endless line of celebrity break ups. I'm sure there's a quote released by some publicist about it being "amicable"...yada yada yada. When this kind of event happens out there in the real world, it's deeply traumatic. Friends are torn both ways; the scars last forever. In Hollywood, it just seems like routine. One gets the feeling that a publicist is guiding the bereaved through the pain instead of a religious adviser or therapist. Has a publicist ever muttered these words in front of the star client (who didn't flinch at the tone)' "Do we want to go with Diane Sawyer or 'Today' on this'"..."Maybe it's too early. We'll seem callous. Let's hold for a few weeks, but not too long so people lose interest." Celebrities who do reality shows together based on their marriage are not faring well. Nick and Jessica - Kaput. Carmen and Dave - close, but no. And now, coming soon to Fox Reality Channel - Rob and Amber of Survivor fame. NO!!!! They can't help themselves. Public attention and adoration is like booze. If you can't control it, it will consume you. Those two laid low together after "The Amazing Race" which was after "Survivor". They likely noticed the magazine requests dwindle so they sold the marriage to public attention again. Maybe they need the public as part of it. One thing I'm sure of...it does not help a marriage. Marriage is sacred and when you put it in the middle of a business that has lots to do with publicity and selling yourself, the fibers that hold it together weaken. Too much (and reality people take it to the max) and it falls apart. So, think Trista and Ryan are going to keep the marriage off TV forever' If so, they dodged a bullet! Posted by Billy Bush at 7:45 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Definition Of 'News' June 23, 2006 Here is the subject line of an email that was forwarded to me and all of our staff today: PEOPLE News: Justin & Cameron Still Going Strong This is unbelievable. Can it possibly be that slow of a summer in the celebrity news arena' Brad and Angelina's baby, Britney on Dateline, Nicole and Keith getting married, Marcia Cross too...I think its hard to keep up. Let me say I'm always amazed when I read press releases about people, who are NOT married, breaking up..often times it comes from THEM! Its a true sign of how high supply and demand are for this fare. But a press release about two unmarried people declaring they are still together is baffling. No news is news' Surely, people are not that easy to please. If indeed you are, have some more: EXCLUSIVE: Nicole Kidman still taller than Keith Urban! BREAKING NEWS: Mandisa still not winner of American Idol! Enough. I'm off for a while with my wife and daughters ("still my family"). Happy 4th to you. Enjoy Superman Returns and God Bless America. Posted by Billy Bush at 7:34 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry The Emancipation of Billy June 20, 2006 I spend a fair amount of my free time in Utah, mostly because I'm an avid skier. Truth is, I love the outdoors and choose to be as physically active as my body will allow (and wife will tolerate). Yesterday, I went mountain biking for the first time in over 10 years. A friend from college who lives in the Wasatch mountains took me out... for a two-hour ride. Currently my buttocks are quite tender.They're making some very small bike seats these days. It's wrong. I understand one would look less than "rugged" powering uphill on Pee-Wee's bike seat, but posterior comfort (trust me) should not be sacrificed for image. Today, on my way to the airport, the driver asked me if I own a set of bike shorts. "No way," I said."Shows off too much... of the wrong features." I then learned about mountain biking shorts: they come equipped with synthetic rear padding and an inner lining of spandex-type material.All this and they look like regular, loose-fitting shorts. I'm not only buying a pair... I'm investing. If my new shorts don't work, I will pull a neck pillow off my couch and duct tape it to my bike. My adventures with Mariah Carey begin tonight.I picked her up at the airport recently... she's here for a month to rehearse for her upcoming U.S. tour with her musical director, Randy Jackson. I am pleased to report she's "on" and I think more great things are coming for and from her. I have done several shoots with Mariah.When I first made her aquaintance, she was in her "slump.""Glitter" had bombed in the U.S. and "Charmbracelet" after it didn't fare much better. My impression was that she was over-handled: people in the camp were nervous about the future and that made her generally uptight.Well, she turned things around, and I think she did it by finally shedding the last holds that her former husband had on her.Used to following direction about "what people want," she began making music she loved. "The Emancipation of Mimi," the top album of 2005 by most barometric measures, has led to "The Adventures of Mimi," a U.S. tour that starts August 5th in Miami. So I hijacked her when she landed and we went to Universal Studios, rode a rollercoaster, then went to the Walk of Fame and gave tourists what they never see when they hit Hollywood Boulevard: a huge star! She was loose, willing to "go with it"... the crowd went crazy and it was a blast. Mariah is fun, really funny and self-deprecating - and thanks to her "morsel diet" (sinful foods allowed, but only a forkful), she's looking strong. Tune in.She's a new girl. Posted by Billy Bush at 4:07 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Britney Thoughts June 16, 2006 Watching the Matt Lauer interview with Britney last night on "Dateline," I conclude this: humanity must prevail. There are multiple opinions on celebrities' lives and what "comes with the territory." A lot of people reconcile that the paparazzi are part of the territory and that any publicity is good publicity, so the relentless headlines of marital doom and those that infer she's a bad mom, are OK.They are not. She is pregnant and trying hard to settle into the two jobs that will ultimately define her life: Mother and wife. HER goal in doing this sit-down with Matt was to really show people the hurt - from tabloids and renegade photogs.I think, and frankly I hope, it works. There IS a perception out there that Kevin Federline is not good enough for her... perhaps the media machine is trying to prove that point by expediting the demise of their marriage.I think that is what happened with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. They didn't sit right with the media machine so they got chewed up. My wife was allowed to settle into her married life and motherhood without people publicly questioning her ability. You or yours likely did too. Some is tolerable. What she encounters every day is not! Posted by Billy Bush at 4:02 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Access Bat Mitzvah June 8, 2006 And now, "Bat Mitzvah Crashers" starring Billy Bush and Nancy O'Dell (with our spouses). We all attended our first Bat Mitzvah this weekend. Our Access Executive Producer is the father of a perfect child, Jordyn, whose every quality I hope is imitated exactly in each of my daughters. It was her big day and his most expensive evening. Pros: There are beautiful songs, moments where people are singing and swaying, arm in arm, in the pews. Jordyn read a blessing of thanks to her family, about why she loved each member. The parents reciprocated. There was great joy in tradition. The party afterward was unbelievable. Other than the one religious tradition of the Motzi, the breaking of the bread and toast by the senior member of the family, it was all dancing, cocktailing and fun. This all went down on our stage at AH - the video monitors were all running loops of the party and a live feed of all that transpired was on 30ft screen that towers over the stage. Grandmothers were shimmying, uncles were sweating, the children were juiced with energy. There were touching toasts, immediate family members of Jordyn joined her in being hoisted and pumped up and down in a dinner chair by uncles, cousins and me...I had to, it was too much fun. Cons: Back to the service, I don't speak Hebrew so I was lost most of the time, although I got the feeling most of my Jewish friends were too. And man oh Manischewitz are these things expensive. For what is generally a celebration of one's entry into adulthood, a gig like this can set you back. And the same theory that applies to having at least as nice a lawn as your neighbor applies here...as a parent paying the tab, you can't hold back...you gotta impress. The proud father, Rob, is our Exec. Producer, as I mentioned but he's also a good friend, and I know that he knows that I know that he HAD to put on a show for the aunts and uncles and friends and everyone else...He's a big time Hollywood producer, isn't he' He sure is. Oh, he has 3 more children under 13, so if I play my cards right, there is a great deal more freeloading in style coming my way! Posted by Billy Bush at 3:47 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Lovin' Vaughniston June 4, 2006 If you ever get the idea that Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston are sick of the curious questions about their relationship, from journalists, humorists, gossipers and anyone else with a show or column, understand that their managers and agents LOVE it all. "The Break-up" was a monster success this weekend, with an already estimated nearly $40 mil opening weekend take and people's curiosity about The Vaughniston chemistry was no doubt a massive factor. Wisely, Jen and Vince have chosen to keep their relationship a mystery, never answering much. When something's a secret, people only want to know more... out of habit. Brangelina did the same thing with 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith". They left people with only one way to see them together... by buying a ticket. Bennifer opted to do a Dateline/Access Hollywood exclusive sit-down together to promote 'Gigli' - it was not a good movie in fairness, but its box office disaster also had something to do with the fact that people didn't like them together...my opinion, but it's dead on. They knew all they needed to know and rejected the film and them. This is Jen's 3rd big movie since "Friends" ended and she split with Brad. It is also her first big hit. She is a likeable actress and very funny, but the big man led the way here.Vince is coming off "Wedding Crashers" and that was enormous. He's the funny guy women adore and guys want to hamg out with. When he goes to Vegas baby, I'm putting my money down on the same numbers he does. No disrespect to Jen at all...she is popular, likeable, very funny and gorgeous - the package - but Vince has cemented his grip on the comedy film. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:38 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'Bee' Musings June 2, 2006 Shame me for my Jingoism. I watched the Scripps National Spelling Bee last night and as it narrowed down, I found myself rooting for America. The lovely Finola Hackett, 2-time Canadian national champion was outstanding but Canadian. I love Canadians and frankly they've been nothing but great to me and Access Hollywood -- we are a very highly rated show throughout Canada -- but I found myself caught up in American pride. These are 13 & 14-year-old girls!!! I am embarrassed to admit this. Finola went on a run where many of her words in the last rounds were of French origin or derived from French and I yelled, "No fair!" "No fair'" My daughters yell that when one gets to hold our kitten longer than the other. Katharine Close from Spring Lake, NJ won the whole thing. I am happy for her and embarrassed for myself. "Ursprache" was the final word. Holy cow! Every young person up there gets my respect and is a winner. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:37 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Thoughts On Katie June 1, 2006 A word about Katie Couric...no matter what happens in the next chapter of her career, her place in the TV Hall of Legends is secure. She helped me without me knowing she did. Back when I started at NBC (local WNBC in New York and then East Coast Access Correspondent) she put me in my place and thankfully it was before real damage was done. I fell into my groove at Access pretty quickly - people in power thought I was fresh, funny, different - so as is done with all new talent, I got going on the "Today" show. My first piece was very funny as I tried to immerse myself into Lou Pearlman's latest boy band invention, a group called "Natural". Soon, they had me doing all kinds of ridiculous pieces (scouring NYC for a wedding gift for Liza and David, milling amongst Elvis impersonators in Memphis, sitting on Santa's lap at Macy's, etc.)...truth be told, I was uncomfortable doing a lot of it - felt forced and "too much", but quickly understood how lucky I was to be anywhere near that set. I came off...well, exactly how I felt - "forced" amongst other things. I stopped doing regular "Today" show stuff... Later, I found out through back channels that Katie had expressed her opinion on me and it was...well, "forced"' I don't know, but here's what I do know: She saved my hide. She was right...I was not ready and I knew it better than most. The good news is I went on to co-anchor this outstanding show and contribute to "Today" for fun. Point: Katie's criticism proved very constructive. Since then, we've done a bunch of shoots together, had countless laughs and grown a true affection for one another. I will miss her on "Today," I thank her for helping me, and her legs are as outstanding now as the day she started...sorry, I digressed! Good luck to you Katie! Posted by Billy Bush at 3:32 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Memorial Day Thoughts May 29, 2006 Angelina and Brad had their baby at the outset of Memorial Day weekend, Saturday night... they always do. Nick and Jessica split the day before Thanksgiving. Ben and J.Lo parted ways on a Tuesday late afternoon heading into Golden Globes weekend, although J.Lo used the occasion (the Globes) for her first foray as a single woman. Sometimes I think the stars plan things this way, but how can you time a baby's birth to the moment people are maximally preoccupied? Those things should not pop into my head during a godly moment such as a birth. But I am in the business of translating these events and after a while, a certain numbness can pervade. So, let me sideline these thoughts and remember the treasured hours that my wife, Syd, and I welcomed our daughters into the world... I cried my eyes out each time at the miracle. She was too exhausted to do the same, but we never felt closer. I know Brad and Angelina can relate, and for that blessing, we bask in the flicker of their permeating glow. Today is Memorial Day and my wife and I will head to the airport a little early. Pearl Harbor is a tad off course from the airport, but an important destination... For those who served in WWII, Iraq and all wars that have rendered us free and democratic. We are grateful for those who have served and for our days alone. We feel blessed on this day and wish the same for you. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:30 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'Idol' Thoughts May 25, 2006 Quick thoughts on Idol... The power of this show astounds me. The quality of this finale was supreme...when 'Idol' debuted in 2002, the music industry shrugged it off as amateur and beneath them. That has so clearly changed. Mary J, Blige, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach...and, believe me I was floored, Prince! Bow to the Idol one and all ...This show is the brightest light in Music and TV. Taylor's win was no surprise. After watching him live last night, I got it. (Nancy is loving this from her perch...i.e.. Heels, shhh.) I am finished underestimating Taylor. Seacrest is a fantastic host. He operates this thing better than anyone could. He owns it. Bucky Covington surprised the heck out of me with "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"...you know he was dreading that, as it could not be more opposite to his style. He over delivered. Puck 'n Pickler was cute but I kept wrestling with whether or not she was acting...she MUST know how to pronounce these menu items at this point? Either way, Pickler is the new Jessica Simpson...my advice is to get married and let the cameras roll. Finally, Simon makes a reported $36 million per year, more than anyone else on the show...combined. He was an audience member tonight. The show just realized its depth on the roster, especially its production team...they took countless former contestants who have never been in a production larger than a town parade and made Prince, Dionne and Mary J. look like they were in familiar company. Great night. Kelly Clarkson was on our show yesterday...it was a quick "arrival" interview on the red carpet at the ACM Awards...she downplayed "American Idol" as she usually does, confusing Taylor's name as only someone who rarely watches could. Also on the red carpet was Carrie Underwood, who made sure to race back to L.A. in time for the "Idol" finale, where she put on a tremendous performance. If it's good enough for Prince, it has to be good enough for Kelly. I can't imagine who, in her camp, is advising against a continued association with "American Idol." It's a mistake in my opinion. Finally, if it's good enough to put Hasselhoff in tears, its good. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:29 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'Circus Tall' Vince May 23, 2006 I had never interviewed Vince Vaughn before last night's premiere of "The Break-Up." And he IS that guy women SAY they want. If you read one of those man polls in a women's magazine, typically, the consensus will be the average woman wants a guy with a great sense of humor first, then personality, followed by looks. After four years of marriage to dude with six pack abs and model good looks, Aniston went that route. My first impression of Vince was everything I expected and more. He's an Alpha male who's funny - perfect wingman for a daytime Cubs game with brews and dogs... little bar hopping after - but very warm and engaging. He looks you in the eye and makes you like him. Vince came to Hollywood looking for great acting roles... he's got them. The gossip about his love life is totally unexpected but he's learning to handle it... not polished yet but learning. I opted to spend my first meeting with him having fun and not putting the screws to him. It was a good call. Big laughs to start the long road ahead. One final thing about Vince... considerate: as he mounted the steps to my platform at the premiere, I stopped him on the last one. At 6'5", I wondered if he'd be interested in doing the interview eye to eye. He obliged acknowledging he is "circus tall." Now if only Nancy would do the same. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:23 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Idol' Finale May 23, 2006 I begin this blog at 5:15 pacific time. Taylor Hicks just finished an explosive first round; he wasn't just "Living for the City", he just sold me on the fact he'll soon be singing for living. Ricky Martin is a good singer but a top notch entertainer. That's Taylor Hicks and he lit this room on fire the moment his big grin and purple velvet jacket hit the screen. In the words of Randy..."It was hot". Nancy will rejoice when she reads this...she's said it all along. I am sitting in the 7th row in the middle of the house and....wait!!!! McPhee has begun "Rainbow" and I'm floored. She is mesmerizing. My daughters are entranced like they've just seen their first snowfall....Their joy and innocent awe is my fuel. My wife looks so beautiful. I'm in the middle of a great family moment...you, a great family show. That's the point for me. At 34, I'm already sentimental. When Taylor sings, I look at his dad. Same with Katharine's dad when his little girl goes for it. It makes me proud for them, of them, with them. Small note for the fly on the wall folks: at 5:40, the judges came scrambling back into the room from the commercial break. Paula cut it the closest, holding onto her top and, to be truthful, was coming out of it, just a hair. Still a family show... Right now, at 5:53, taylor is bringing it home and the choir has come out behind him and its clear to me they like backing him up a whole lot more. Hicks is going to run away with this thing because it isn't enough to sing beautifully...You MUST ENTERTAIN. And now, Daniel Powter...I change my mind, he'll win. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:26 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Da Vinci Alarm May 19, 2006 I am stunned. The reviews for "The Da Vinci Code" are brutal. Anything other than tepid is cause for alarm. Here are the 'See it/Skip it' results on the show tonight: THE DA VINCI CODE Variety Skip The Hollywood Reporter Skip Entertainment Weekly Skip People Skip The Philadelphia Inquirer Skip The New York Times Skip Roger Ebert See MovieMantz Skip I don't know why Roger Ebert is so often giving his thumb up to movies the majority of his colleagues reject... my theory is he is repenting for past pannings and put-downs. But who knows? Ron Howard has called the review crisis "frustrating", and frankly his honesty and lack of requisite spin are refreshing, but this could be tough for the film's longevity at the Box Office as well as its hopes for Oscar consideration down the road. As of this moment, fans don't seem to be derailed from going this weekend...the movie should do well. And how bitter must Tom Cruise be? He stayed as far away from The Code and Memorial Day Weekend as he thought it necessary to do. But his movie, "M:i:III," was WELL received. He might have made a bigger splash over the long weekend had he opened closer to it. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:20 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Laughs With Wallace May 18, 2006 I just interviewed Mike Wallace... Oh, he met his match. We had some great laughs, especially when I complimented him on his legendary career: "No one will forget, you were first on the scene when Lincoln was shot..." We discussed the roots of his tan (no spray' he's a tan gel guy). He was self-effacing and funny, when he said to me, "If I was good looking like you, I could have been a contender." After the formal part of the interview, we took a stroll towards his office. When we got there, his friend and colleague, Morley Safer, came out to greet us. After Mike ribbed him for smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day for a million years, they welcomed the arrival of Leslie Stahl. Rushing into the office with her hands full of bags, she whizzed by us. ike tried to wrangle her over for a chat... she obliged only momentarily before pulling away and heading off down the hall. As she walked away, Wallace says, "Look at those legs." It was out loud and very funny. It was also something ONLY Mike Wallace could say and get away with. Mike has suffered from Clinical Depression for many years. His psychiatrist prescribed medication and it has helped him live a happy life. I asked him if he has ever wanted to interview Tom Cruise, a known critic of Psychiatry (he calls it a sham) and those who take psychiatrically prescribed meds. "Tom Cruise doesn't know his tail from third base," he said. Those two should gather for a Wallace special. When you see his comments on our show, I guarantee you there will be people calling for the meeting. Right now, I have retired to a closed rehearsal session for tomorrow night's Rainforest Foundation Fund benefit. James Taylor is singing "Going to Carolina" and Sting is singing along with him... Oh boy, I'm in heaven. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:19 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'Idol' Apology May 18, 2006 I have an apology to make. On Wednesday's show, you heard me say, 'I'm afraid Elliott is gone tonight. It is shocking' Which in hindsight, I can now see how that might have made it appear that I was giving away 'Idol' results ' that is, had I actually known them. I didn't. And I certainly didn't mean to ruin the excitement of watching the show live. My family and I rooted the entire season for Elliott, and I can only imagine how upset we would have been if someone was spoiling our 'Idol' experience. 'Idol' is obviously bigger than all of us. I understand it, and I am sorry. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:19 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry '30 Rock' May 15, 2006 I just met with NBC's entertainment President, Kevin Reilly, to talk about NBC's presentation of its Fall primetime schedule to advertisers today. I was working on less than 5 hours of sleep due to a late arrival last night so I hadn't seen any footage from the shows. I was going solely on what I've read and prevalent buzz. The show Kevin and NBC are most excited about is "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," a drama set behind the scenes of a late-night sketch comedy show. Its creative power reunites the 'West Wing" minds of Tommy Schlamme (best name in town) and Aaron Sorkin, and stars Mathew Perry and Bradley Whitford. It is in fact good, but in my earnest opinion, NOT my favorite. Expensive to produce and coveted, given that NBC bested CBS in a brutal bidding war, it's the high hope. Big names and proven track records make it safer than others in an excruciatingly tight marketplace, but I offer this: There is one show in the NBC arsenal that is, at first glance, hilarious, fresh and original. "30 Rock," starring writer and co-star Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin... who is brilliant. Alec's entry is funny from the outset and never let's up. I say move it to Thursday and let NBC reclaim the laughs on that big night. Baldwin: "Hello, I'm Jack Donaghy, VP of NBC Universal/GE/K-Mart... Tina Fey: "We own K-Mart'" Baldwin: "No... so why are you dressed like we do?" Folks, it is clear to me that writing Tina Fey said, "get me Baldwin and I'll write you a hit" They did. She did. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:18 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Eva's Cause May 12, 2006 Hollywood has so many different types of players...a lot of healthy egos, a lot of talent, some brilliant creative minds...some definite "hangers-on", opportunists and self-absorbed takers as well. When I'm at my happiest is when I get to shine some light in the shadows of this town, where real good is taking place. Our Hollywood Heroes pieces are exactly that. Whether it's chronicling the work Ben Affleck does on behalf of his young friend Joe Kindregan whose fighting Ataxia-Talengectasia, a rare neurological disease that so far has no cure. Or Julianne Moore's willingness to help a random guy she met on the street (Tom Lindsey), whose son is fighting Tuberous Sclerosis, by raising money and lobbying congress. There are many bright lights in Hollywood and just about a week ago, it happened again. Eva Longoria contacted me and invited me to join her Saturday morning at Children's Hospital in L.A. She has worked with a group called Padres Contra de Cancer for the past 6 years and has been the national spokesperson since last spring. So, while her celebrity was widely unknown, she was involved quietly, but since "Desperate Housewives" hit big, she has realized that she has a real opportunity to attract a lot of people to this cause. I arrived early to walk through the hospital floor, meet the organizers and get acquainted with some of the families whose children were in the fight of their lives. I was a bit nervous and anxious, because above all else, I will never understand why some children have this disease. It hurts to the core just trying to fathom this injustice. When Eva walked into Padres, the busy children, coloring and playing with toys, perked up and squealed with glee. The parents were excited. It was obvious to me she was someone they KNEW; she was truly known to these people outside the TV set. A little girl named Anna screamed, "Eva!" And came running towards her and jumped into her arms. I was standing right next to them and tears the size of lakes filled my eyes. It was a happy moment. The halls and rooms of Padres are bright and full of colors; the mascot, who looks kind of like Lilo from Disney's 'Lilo and Stitch', was playing with the children. There was joy. It was special and left me with this resolve: I will do what I can to help whenever Eva, or anyone from Padres, needs my help. I met and colored pictures with a little boy named Kelvin. His head was virtually hairless from the chemo treatments, but his resolve and will were bedrock. He told me he wanted Kingdom Hearts 2, the video game, and that he was going to earn the money for it by selling lemonade at his stand. "How much for a glass?" I asked. "A hundred dollars" was his answer. His mother emailed me the other day and told me that, for me, he had decided to slash the price to a mere ten dollars. That's 90% off...what a deal. Eva was there finishing a PSA with the children that will air in June, nationally, during the ALMA Awards. As host and Producer of this show, Eva had negotiated this :30 second PSA as her compensation for the event...nothing else. I like Eva. She is fun and cute, willing to play on camera...but I got to see a new side. Now that she's famous and in demand, it's not less of a commitment, its full speed ahead. These moments help me when some of the trivial elements of this town get heavy. I thank Eva, Kelvin, little Anna, all the Padres' families and the doctors, nurses and administrators working hard at Children's Hospital in LA for these precious children. They have a better chance because of it. And I understand a bit more. To me, God is at work, waking us all up to reality and letting hope lead the way. Padres is nothing but real, palpable HOPE. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:17 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'Prison Break' May 10, 2006 Where men and women ultimately differ can be surmised in the Fox Show, "Prison Break". I love that show. Last night, I was visibly uncomfortable, tense, scared, anxious...all that great stuff. My wife believes those are exactly reasons why not to watch a show. She prefers the emotional angst of a "Grey's Anatomy". Please don't get me wrong, I'm a McDreamy fan that can grip a tissue box as tight as any. I think the Vet, the great Chris O'Donnell, is the ideal anti-man, the tender warrior preferred by so many women today. I strive to be THAT man. But, the wrongs of prison life..., the murderer, the wronged guy on death row, the violence, the uncomfortable roommate situation for some inmates...the need to sleep on your back if you know what I mean. Guys, like, ultimately freak out over that stuff. Anyway, my marriage is on hold Mondays between 8 and 9 p.m. I choose to be blissfully uncomfortable. My wife does a sudoku. But, we'll always have Sunday. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:12 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Locklear Lockdown May 8, 2006 An awkward thing happened to me today. I was halfway through playing in the Michael Douglas and Friends Celebrity-Amateur tournament...we stopped at the grill for a burger. Heather Locklear (pictured with Billy in an older interview) and her foursome were finishing their lunch and heading back out to play. One of my teammates, Cheryl Ladd popped over to say "Hi"...I was walking by and I did too. I don't know Heather too well, but I thought it polite. As soon as I started chatting with her, two publicists started shouting "Time to go. She has to go." "Uh...Bye", I said. Shortly after that, the two publicists huddled with a guy, who I later found out was one of the press coordinators. He made his way over to me and began questioning me, in a subtle way (not really) about my involvement... who my foursome was, their names. I suddenly realized what was up. They thought I was snooping around, like "Fletch", trying to get close to Heather for a scoop on the whole Denise-Richie saga. I was being given the third degree like the guy at the club in jean shorts. I was like paparazzi. Ironically, the grounds were being set up for an NBC telecast the next day. NBC is the network that owns Access Hollywood, my employer. Hey, this is my family...wait, don't throw me out!! I may have icing on my lips, but I did not eat the cake. Truth be told, my friend Stewart invited me to play a long time ago...long before I knew Heather was attending. Yes, an invited guest. But, to think I might be so uber-aggressive as to sneak into the Michael Douglas Tournament...well, that's flattering, but I do have a life (wife, three daughters) that beckons me to other pursuits on Saturdays. One other note: each foursome costs so much money it's crippling, so to approach anyone in one of these groups, in a suspicious manner is kind of tough in the etiquette department. Stewart was embarrassed by me being embarrassed and swore he'd never play again in this tournament. I calmed him down by explaining things: the celebrity hunt on the weekends, led by the paparazzi, is wild and a lot of people will stop at nothing to exploit a salacious story. He didn't really understand, but how can ANYONE really? Heather looked great and was very nice. There's my report. Posted by Billy Bush at 4:48 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Christina Tell-All May 4, 2006 I received an email from Christina Aguilera's publicist. She pointed out that the interview was scheduled for somewhere between six and nine PM, and that my blog entry (previous to this) was unfair to Christina. We may have miscommunicated on the time, and I feel I should point out that music video sets are always way behind and touch and go. Maybe my ego was bruised. Underneath, I may have expected Christina to come out of her trailer, say "hi" and explain. After all, I'm there with an audience in the millions to promote her new album. But she is a pro and has the jobs of her people well defined. I guess I've gotten by dealing face-to-face with most stars. So, to her I apologize and next time, I will arrive a little later and be a little more flexible. She is a great artist, and however she operates, one thing is for sure... it works. Finally, I mused about the entertainment shows banning together like the immigrants who marched to affect change and be noticed... I said the problem was that when one show takes a stand, there's always another ready to discredit them and take the spoils... There is absolutely NO doubt in my mind that Christina's publicist didn't read the blog on her own. One of our competing shows read it and quickly called her to tattle. That part is funny. It reminds me of my five-year-old daughter who "tells" on her older sister for everything. To the point that nobody can take any of her grievances seriously. Posted by Billy Bush at 4:50 AM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Christina No-Show May 3, 2006 (Billy pictured with Christina in an older Access interview) Here it is Tuesday night...I have just spent two hours waiting around the music video set of Christina Aguilera's, "Ain't No Other Man". She and I did not do the interview. I was looking forward to this I must admit...she's a totally unpredictable, unstoppable singer and an interesting personality...gone are the chaps; its retro '30s and '40s with her on this current reinvention. Add to the artistic changes, a husband with whom she's laid low over the six months, I was intrigued at who I'd find infront of me. The problem is they kept me waiting 2 hours and if I had stayed, I'd be feeding an existing problem: SOME (I stress "some") big stars take us for granted...whether we send the co-anchor of the show or a camera and producer. Its not totally their fault: there are too many shows, magazines, etc. in the marketplace and only one Christina. We'd have to pool together and stage a strike like the immigrant workers to affect change. You see, if one show takes a stand and pulls out, another is right there to take the spoils. For the record, I have found that usually the bigger the star, the more prompt they are - Tom Cruise will make you feel like you're the only thing on his mind - Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Oprah, the bigger they are the better....usually. No dig at Christina, she's a big star with a voice like none other, but it's apparent to me, there are no people approaching her with bad news, telling her, "you should hurry up, Billy Bush has been waiting 2 hours." Even if they had, I'm not sure I would have wanted to hear her answer... At the end of the day, I've learned to have the right amount of pride, do what leaves me able to respect myself, and not stew about it. Life's too short... ...and so are the pieces we do anyway. Posted by Billy Bush at 2:51 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Teri's Tears May 2, 2006 In Touch Weekly released a story that alleges Ryan Seacrest and Paula Abdul are in couples therapy because they haven't spoken for more than three weeks... things are that icy. How uninspired can it get? I read that story this morning and realized there are just too many outlets reporting celebrity news. Poor 'In Touch' is looking for their piece of the pie, a story that they can put out there and hope others will glom onto (and others will, like morning radio shows whose vetting system is limited to an intern printing it from the Web and handing it to the DJ). According to our sources, it isn't true and it's a great example of the celebrity bubble getting ever closer to popping. As for Teri Hatcher's interview on "Oprah"... wow. When Teri sat there and watched the video from the family of fourteen-year-old Sarah, who killed herself after years of being molested by the same man that tortured Teri, she began to cry. I felt Teri's pain and hurt really badly inside for her and even more, for little Sarah. Imagine a sweet, innocent life like that unable to go on! That crime is a sickness for which I feel no compassion. It should be punishable by the most severe means available. When the audience applauded for Teri, I wanted them to stop. She doesn't feel like a champ; there is nothing to celebrate. What Teri did is muster the courage to make her and Sarah's tormenter pay a price but I fear that price will not be enough. There is no victory here. Oprah did a great job as always. She and Vanity Fair are the two outlets that have "tell all" parameters with which celebs comply. They have made their space that coveted. Can you imagine a publicist jumping in on an Oprah interview to change topics? Do it for a minute... it's funny. Posted by Billy Bush at 2:52 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Lindsay's Wariness May 1, 2006 I interviewed Lindsay Lohan on Friday afternoon. She was very late as usual, but I'm used to that with her. I had nothing important to race to so I hung out in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel talking to a wise man in TV. He's a very popular personality, someone I consider a friend, and we had a great discussion. When people think they know how much money somebody makes, especially in TV where it's our job to make it look easy and it turns out to be a lot... it's harmful to said personality. It has been widely reported and people think they know how much Katie Couric made at "The Today Show," give or take a few million (15 mil per year), they know how much Meredith Vieira is getting to replace her (10 mil); they think they know Matt Lauer's contract was adjusted to reflect his seniority (13 mil per year). Nobody knows what Regis makes; nor Diane Sawyer, or Nancy O'Dell. The guy I was talking to recently finished a new contract - he did very well. But nobody will know the terms of the deal and how much is involved, because peoples' perceptions of you can and likely will change. I do believe women on TV stand to suffer more grief from people knowing how rich they are, and men less, because of traditional, imbedded sexism. But still, while it may pump a certain person's ego (do not discount the agent who orchestrated the deal) it turns people off. So, in summation, I will work hard to ensure nobody ever knows how much I make.... (Note: if it's embarrassingly low compared to others, I will be covered under this valued principle). After a shake and a hug with my mystery friend, it was back to my interview room for Lindsay. She came, the interview went decently, and I left realizing this about her: She is very tainted by press interviews and now instinctively feels like everybody's out to get her. She's been through a lot for a 19-year- old... one who made almost 8 million dollars for her current film, 'Just My Luck.' One step towards getting press people to lay off might be to keep them in the dark about how much money you're making - it only makes you less real and harder to truly accept. Finally, how about this new Web site... sweet, huh? Congrats and thanks to our IT and Web Masters - Jeremy, Eric and Jenna - we now dominate online as well. Posted by Billy Bush at 2:53 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Rosie's 'View' April 28, 2006 When our Tim Vincent interviewed Rosie, she had some typically wild words for Star Jones on how she lost all the weight: "She has abandoned us fatties. She is not even telling us how she did it. She wrote a whole book and she never mentioned it...yeah I'd like to know...sure wasn't Pilates." Good news is that once she replaces Meredith Vieira on 'The View', she'll have every day to hammer Star with that question until she answers. I wonder if Rosie wishes she hadn't said that? Probably not. This announcement is a shocker. I thought they would have replaced Meredith with someone like her...Patricia Heaton and she seem like similar women - attractive, smart, pretty up the middle, suburban mothers. Connie Chung and Meredith have some strong similarities in their professional background. Rosie is the wild card.. That said, it's a strong move. She's brassy, smart, unafraid to confront and very funny. If she can keep herself from getting too angry during debate, she'll be compelling. Coupled with Joy, they will be a liberal force the likes of which Rush Limbaugh has never seen nor engaged. If you've ever seen Hannity and Colmes on the Fox News Channel, I get the feeling that Alan Colmes is the foil. A guy set up for a pounding... On that note, if Elizabeth Hasselback has any free time, she may want to enroll in a Fight Club. If not, her view will get the "malache crunch" - maybe they'll give her a megaphone to try and help her out. The only way this could turn out to be a perilous venture, other than the possibility of uncivil exchanges, is the possibility of infighting. I say this assuming that the ladies have worked out a nice balance as of now...Rosie and Meredith have VERY different personalities. But, in the end, I think Rosie is as quick as a whip and will help 'The View' continue to get noticed in newspapers and on Access Hollywood. They have done a great job of that in the last year, but I think she brings an element that will enhance. Look at the Emmys on her shelf; she knows what she's doing. Posted by Billy Bush at 2:57 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Denise & Richie April 24, 2006 The photos and eyewitness accounts of Denise Richards and Richie Sambora cozying...smooching, petting, fawning, etc. have me confused. This set of events is either a "set up" or a full on public relations disaster. If it was a "caught in the act" disaster, why were they so obvious? Neither Denise nor Richie stands to gain anything from that. She leveled scorched earth accusations against her husband Charlie Sheen: implying that he viewed underage girls performing oral sex on each other on the internet; that he pushed her down on the floor while she was holding their baby; that his prostitute habit is rampant; that he screamed at her, wishing "breast cancer" on her and cancer of the face. It just goes on and on and, in short, is awful. So why in the world would Denise Richards do that on Friday and hook up with Richie Sambora over the weekend? First, the sting in her accusations against Charlie gets weakened. I read her claims and felt terribly for her. I rationalized in my mind that even if Charlie were guilty of one eighth of it, that was enough and I felt really badly for her and frightened for their children. Then Charlie spoke to Tony Potts at an event to promote his children's clothing line...he was ready. Charlie vehemently denied her charges and acted disgusted at her response to what he called their "failed marriage". In the court of public opinion, it was one day later and he was already on his way back, though inarguably he had his work cut out for him. But, while Charlie was defending himself with Tony Potts on our show, Denise was photographed being affectionate with Richie Sambora. There goes the empathy for her and Charlie has now, as I see the court of public opinion, pulled even at least. Now, Denise is really close friends with Richie's wife, from whom he has been separated for several months, Heather Locklear.... what is going on here? Now she risks looking like a backstabber and a predator. In order to stay as objective as I can, I will remain open to the possibility that Denise is still great friends with Heather, has also remained great friends with her husband, Richie, who's a rocker with an extremely affectionate, "hands on" personal style with his friends; and that this is nothing but a big misunderstanding. But the video and photos of Denise and Richie are out there...I can tell you that I do not come close to that level of intimate interaction with any of my close buddies' wives...it's inappropriate no matter what. It's clear that Denise and Charlie are past the point of reparation in their marriage, but without realizing it perhaps, Denise has reached out to help him recover from this PR beating not 24 hours after leveling brutal allegations against him. Hollywood, reinforcing the moral fabric of America at every turn....the epicenter of family values. The more this kind of stuff goes on, the more ANYONE from this town who opens their mouth in outrage over ANYTHING has lost their footing! More to come for sure... Posted by Billy Bush at 2:56 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Tom Talks April 22, 2006 While the world scrambled for the correct pronunciation of baby Suri's name, let me say how happy I am for Katie and Tom Cruise. Tom is an interesting guy. You may remember almost a year ago when I sat down with Tom for what turned out to be a half hour special - on Scientology, his marriage to Nicole, his beliefs, etc. In that interview, I challenged Tom over his position on psychiatric medicine and drugs by asking him if Brooke Shields (his 1981 co-star in "Endless Love") was wrong to take Paxil to help her deal with postpartum depression. His answer came across as scathing, but it was honest. "Where's her career now?...It's irresponsible for her..." I left that sit down with Tom better understanding him and mostly respecting his guts. Most movie stars stay diplomatically unopinionated - for the biggest star in the world to haul off with honesty was thrilling, frankly. I understand Scientology and, therefore, am not threatened by it. I think people felt a need to ridicule Tom after that interview (Oprah appearance fallout intensified) because ignorance breeds fear... I will never become a Scientologist...the religion professes to include people of all faiths, but all things considered, it's a religion of science with no God...I can't harmonize my life with both. There around 10,000 religious sects and offshoots of faiths out there in the world and, to me, some are very scary. I just finished reading Jon Krakauer's "Under The Banner Of Heaven", about the violent and brief history of the Mormon religion. (Only 176 years old). This book might freak you out, but taken in the context of its present day form, not so much to me. Some of Its fundamentalist breakaway sects...sure. Well, it seems the world is coming around. In other words, Tom's goal in sitting down with me may have been achieved. If he set out to immunize the general public on Scientology and make it more "accepted", great strides have been made. Nobody is saying anything other than "congratulations" to Tom... the negative stuff has simmered and withered. Good. For Tom's fiancée, mostly. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:11 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Katie's New Job April 9, 2006 Weighing in on Katie Couric's move to the CBS Evening News...I'm quite sure they (CBS) have a revolutionary approach to delivering news in the making. Maybe, the broadcast originates from a living room setting and is delivered in a very conversational tone. Perhaps, that would be best. The goal maybe is to give you the feeling Katie is really "talking WITH you, not AT you". Short of dressing up on Halloween and singing with the cast of 'Hairspray', the new CBS Evening News will likely look like a chat with Katie, feet up, at the end of the day or something very different...or why do this? Katie rules the cocktail party. She's not the one you look for to say 'grace' before the meal. So if the answer to a stoic, credible man reading the news from behind a desk is a bubbly, witty Katie reading the news from behind a desk, it will settle into the pack quickly and be largely unimpressive....that's my guess. But, I know Katie and she's a winner. I'm betting she's a step ahead of me. I just got back from Disney World, where I enjoyed 2 days of fun with my seven and five year old daughters. We attended the grand opening of the newest family attraction, 'Expedition Everest'...it was cool. But, the cast of Disney's High School Musical was there...the Sprouse twins from 'The Suite Life of Zack and Cody', Aly and AJ ...it goes on and my girls went nuts. Imagine how awkward it was for me to corral these kids at every opportunity to take pictures with my daughters. You just swallow your pride and fend for your brood. The most memorable moment was helping a girl find her parents. She was about 11 years old and from England. She and her family had just arrived at Disney World and had been there an hour, when after riding 'Pirates of the Caribbean', she lost them; we found her in tears. I had a VIP guide named Jeremy taking us around, and he was torn over dealing with the little girl or taking care of us, as we only had so much time. Wow. I think Jeremy actually takes some people around Disney who are self absorbed enough where he wouldn't assume that OF COURSE we wanted to help her. I couldn't stop thinking of the horribly frightening 'ride' SHE was on, and how my daughters were watching this intense drama as it unfolded before us. They had to see a happy ending...we were at DISNEY! We calmed the girl down; she steadied herself enough to remember a meeting place she was supposed to go to if she got lost. On our way there, some 20 minutes after meeting her, her daddy popped up. She was elated, he was relieved and I cried behind my shades as if I had re-discovered my own little girls. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:10 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Happy Anniversary April 4, 2006 I have been married 8 years to the day! I would like to take a moment to honor my wife, Sydney. Having 3 children and raising them nanny-free is what most people do (yes, I'm in touch with America at large), but it is hard. My patience gets tested every time I'm on solo duty. My girls hug and kiss me like crazy when I walk in at day's end, but trust me, when Sydney leaves for 10 minutes and returns, a homecoming parade breaks out. She is the burning furnace of love at the center of this family. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment is loving me, because I don't always make it easy. I can be temperamental, erratic, forgetful, but one thing is always true - I'm loyal and I love her. The scariest thing in my life now is coming to terms with the fact that I NEED her. For emotional balance, confidence, I need her to be strong and steady in her life for me. So wind back that list of my faults and add "extremely needy" ...as well as a total wuss when I'm sick. April 4th, 1998....Sydney Davis Bush saved my life and made me a winner. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:09 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'High School Musical' April 3, 2006 Don't even bother throwing your hat in the ring for Cool Father of the Year, because it doesn't exist and, if it did, I'd win. Yesterday, I took my 7 and 5 year old daughters to meet the four main cast members of Disney Channel's "High School Musical." If you have a child between 5 and 15, then you know what I'm talking about. Given that 34 million unduplicated people have watched this film, it was imperative that we set up a big shoot. We invited all Access Employees and friends with fanatic fans under their watch. I felt like a nervous dad meeting my son-in-law for the first time when Zac Efron, the very attractive young stud in the lead role of HSM, entered the room. My daughters blushed, their hearts were racing, I almost cried. And thankfully, he was a prince - nice, polite, charming, reached out to them and made them feel special. If he'll wait for one of them, this dad approves. (Gotta wait 20 years though). After my interviews where I confirmed none are dating each other (my daughters made me...oy) the cast members - Zac, Vanessa, Ashley and Lucas- taught the children the 'Wildcat Dance.' My 7-year-old daughter, in a moment of utter courage, launched into a freestyle break dance. I was nervous for her, in case the other children found it to be too aggressive, but sure enough Zac saw it, loved it, and joined her in a duet. She felt SO COOL...and she was! Last night, after an hour's rest, I shot off to Hollywood to emcee Comedy For a Cure. What a night! The auction was a huge success, thanks in large part to Teri Hatcher's full-contact bid solicitations. Nearly $250,000 was raised - a huge success! Sarah Silverman employed "shock and awe" humor tactics on stage to entertain. Teri and I discussed a little of her latest - the date and smooch with Seacrest. Suffice it to say, she is not "going out with him," is still available and... well, just a little tired of her life as an unauthorized documentary. Great gal, and boy - she lays it out there for people in need. She was a massive boon to the TS Alliance. Julianne Moore was honored for her years of support. Looking really slim and smokin' as a brunette, Julianne hopped up on stage and showed what compassion is all about. She stood shoulder to shoulder with Tom Lindsey, a Staten Island dad who stopped her on the street in 2003 and begged her to help. She hasn't stopped since, including lobbying Congress for increased funding. What a night! Posted by Billy Bush at 3:08 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry John Tesh March 25, 2006 Here it is Saturday morning at 9am and I have just returned from my favorite breakfast spot on Beverly Glen Blvd., which is clearly a favorite of the great John Tesh. Yes, The Tesh was there before me and he could not be a nicer guy. Truth be told, I have seen him once before outside the neighboring Starbuck's, but in a ball cap and shades, he did not notice me. As I was exiting with my wife and daughters, our eyes met, this time definitively, and there were sparks. He was sitting in a booth with HIS daughter spending some Q.T. Two guys, both with daughters, both legends (joking here) in celebrity news, both musically gifted (joking again...I can't play hot cross buns)... But I must say, there are some people whose radiant warmth disarms you, welcomes you, and leaves you feeling better. He's one of those guys. ET was good when he was at the helm. If they got him back, I'd quit in fear. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:06 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Eva Clears The Air March 23, 2006 There's no question that in this job, I get to meet some interesting people, but they're not always the ones you'd assume. James Brolin came onto our stage. First, he's a great looking older gentleman...the silver do reminiscent of Blake Carrington in the "Dynasty" days. A man can only hope to have a 'do like that. His self deprecation is what entertained us all. He quickly responded to "who wears the pants, you are Barbra?" with a quick, "Oh, she does". That gave us laughs. And just like his rugged looks would suggest, he is the new spokesperson for a treasure hunting outfit, that with the use of the newest and most innovative sonar, aims to track down all of the sunken treasure of the last half millennium. How cool. Earlier in the week, Eva Longoria contacted us and said she wants to meet with me to clear the air over fallout from an Allure Magazine article she did...people had taken from the text that she was the 'teacher' in the bedroom she shares at every opportunity with her beau, Tony Parker. She wanted to make clear that 'when the lights are off, he's the teacher.' Topics like that are usually touchy ones to breach. Anyone else who wants to follow suit in their own relationships, please, pick up the phone. On a more somber note, I am coming off a couple of hard nights. My baby Lillie fell in our driveway. With no hands out to brace herself, she fell smack on her head and the biggest, most abnormally colored boulder emerged on her head. The fear that rushed through my body (and my wife's) led us to pack up all three children and head to the ER. One CAT scan later, our fears subsided as she was declared 'OK.' All that was left was guilt - I was the closest one to her. That was two days ago. Last night, my 5-year-old climbed into our bed at 1 a.m. complaining of bad stomach pains around the belly button. After an hour of back-and-forth, I loaded her up in the car and headed back to the same ER. As we parked the car, I asked her how she was feeling. "It's gone," she said. After some convincing (she had seen her sister the day before), we returned to bed - where (you guessed it) the pain returned. Set to return back to the ER, she assured me it was not as bad. She fell asleep, and eventually so did I. She feels great today. I, on the other hand, need a vacation. So, we're all taking one. Spring skiing it is... with helmets on every kid. And Dad, too. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:05 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Teri Talks March 8, 2006 I emailed Teri Hatcher as soon as I could untie the knot in my stomach after reading the Vanity Fair article yesterday, where she detailed her recollection of some events of her childhood. I felt nauseated, with hints of paranoia and anxiety rushing through my system, as I read about Teri's claims of being forced to touch and be touched by her sadistic uncle. How do these people go undetected? How do their spouses not know that there is something so deeply wrong with the person with whom they share a life! I hate that sick and twisted uncle...I have a 5-year-old daughter and if someone did anything like that to her, I fear I might cross a line I cannot cross back. I am not a stranger to this type of victimization. I believe there are too many people out there who know Teri's feelings personally. Maybe that's why there are so many victims...opportunity is there...pedophiles assume that adults are too gut-wrenchingly sickened to face this head-on; parents are too pained by guilt to admit they missed the signs and essentially allowed an animal to attack their child. I guarantee you Teri is not singing out loud, like she's been set free. That type of trauma, the 14-year-old girl who killed herself because of the emotional trauma inflicted by the uncle, does not leave. It becomes manageable is my guess...Teri might agree. I love the work Oprah is doing. A veritable crusade it's working and drawing awareness to this sleeping giant. Abuse of a child...good lord! And most importantly, my fellow parents, the work we have to do: My daughter is NOT allowed to play at another child's house if their mom is not there...if we know the family well, babysitter is ok, but fathers I have to know myself. I make no apologies for that bit of prejudice - protecting children seems to be survival of the fittest...luckiest even. Teri emailed me back. She said my words brought her to tears. As sincere and well intentioned as they were, I get the feeling even the slightest of gestures, the smallest of events bring on a cavalcade of tears in her life right now. I am encouraged. There is a lot of crap floated by celebs in an effort to promote something. However, this admission by Teri was to make someone pay for the most heinous crime...she spoke up for her 5-year-old self and a 14-year-old girl who can't because she took her own life. This is a good day for Teri, for that 14-year-old's family (comparatively) and for Hollywood - I hope more bold action occurs where fiscal strings are not attached. I told Teri her daughter, Emerson, will grow up to respect her as much as she loves her.... Let's all open our eyes to the hidden predators on this earth. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:04 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Dana Reeve March 7, 2006 The truth is I never thought this would happen. Dana Reeve was too strong and had been through too much. She lost her husband, then lost her mom. Then she got lung cancer...didn't even smoke. I thought "God is setting her up for a great triumph after all she's been through!!" Not quite. My sadness today is not for Dana...she is in a better place, I believe, reunited with the man she loves...and he is free to love her back without restrictions. It's Will. He's lost his dad, his grandma, his mom...all within less than a year and a half. What kind of character is he being called upon to have? I've spent some time with this boy, and I have to tell you, there is something supremely strong and special about Will. He will be ok. It's the last thing anyone on earth would wish for him, but he CAN handle it. Not today or tomorrow, but Will Reeve will rise and become something great. That kind of fabric, magnetism and strength comes in only a few people...trust me, and in years to come, you will see it's true. I worry about Will. He plays hockey with my dad's godson, our close family friends, in Bedford, NY. I've been to their practice. Will is a leader. The team wore his dad's initials on their jerseys in memory. The idea that they'll have to add his mom, too, is heartbreaking. The only 13 year old I've ever met who I instinctively felt was equipped to handle life's awful realities, is Will. His name, 'Will', is prophetic. Nobody has more than he does...and now, he will discover it...again. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:03 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Oscar Buzz March 6, 2006 Recovering from my unfortunate errors at the end of the Oscar pre-show (lost audio at 8, set shots I hoped for disappeared...wah wah wah, I'll shut up, it happens) and sitting in the house. A funny moment in between commercials was Jon stewart, (with 5 seconds 'til LIVE) he faintly lets out the F word, just to get away with it...big laugh. Then, about 2 and a half hours into the show, he sighs before going back on, "half way through folks". Jon's great...holding a show filled with dull, but necessary, elements together. Best dressed of the night, my wife Syd. My apologies to the famous women. About to sneak out and POW, a surprise...much needed. "Crash" has done it and the place is alive! Interviewing Reese and Ryan on the way into the Governor's Ball, I told them (when I was through) that if they didn't break for the doors to go inside, they'd never get there...that's how you get an exclusive. My mother-in-law, Carolyn, is from a small town called Clarksdale, Mississippi...imagine how excited she was when the only celebrity alive from her home town, and a big movie star at that, Morgan Freeman, sat at our table for dinner at the Governor's Ball. She is still talking about it, and it was the highlight of my night too to see her so happy. Ratings for the show are down nearly 8%...that's a tribute to Jon Stewart who, in a year of tiny, unheard of films, was funny and classy. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:03 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry 'Dancing With The Stars' February 27, 2006 9:25pm - One hour and twenty-five minutes into the "Dancing With The Stars" GRAND finale (not to be confused with last Thursday night's regular finale) and I'm longing for closure. I have that feeling the only reason I'm watching is because I don't want to miss out on what people (like ME) will be saying about it on Monday. Its not the first time I've been placed in this situation by a reality show... You want to believe that, in the end, it won't be a popularity contest that decides this, but that's wishful thinking. I can surmise that a ton of football fans watch 'DWTS': how else does one explain Jerry Rice outlasting Stacy Keibler? Quick notes: I want Lisa Rinna's legs. Tell me what I have to do to own a set of those for myself. Wow, 42 is the new 22. If her body were any better, it would be Stacy Keibler's. Mary J. Blige must be backstage scratching her head. She performed her first song and we saw maybe 3 shots of her...they forgot to tell her she'd be heard, not seen. They made it up on song #2. Is Nick Lachey getting paid for "appearing" on the show? He should. Bruno the judge is the ONLY choice for Martin Short's role as the wedding planner in "Father of The Bride 3." 9:45pm - I am standing on the roof of my house threatening to jump. My wife is leaning out the window saying, "Only 15 more minutes". I'm picturing some director piping the words "stretch...stretch" in Tom Bergeron's ear. 9:55pm - they announce Drew and Cheryl as the winners and immediately the lovely Samantha Harris launches into an interview with Jerry Rice. Drew deserves it. It's harder for the guys because they have to lead...and leading a professional has got to be even harder. Now, the star of the show is unquestionably...Drew's wife. She is on the cusp of delivering her first child, her hormones are likely making her feel uneasy, and a by-product of his great work on the show is spending a ton of time with his cute "co-worker"...a cute "brother-sister", affectionate friendship has developed. My wife and I kept hoping he'd recognize his wife on air. The continuous hugs and giggles that are shared between Drew and Cheryl cannot sit that well with her no matter how "cool" she is. I know Drew is a loyal, great husband, but I have had three children in almost 8 years of marriage, I know what I'm talking about. Remember the "Skating With Celebrities" guy who left his wife for his partner, actress Kristy Swanson...I remeber her saying something to the effect of "we have a brother-sister relationship"....I believe Drew is a bigger man and this does not apply to him, but here's a real prediction: Affairs between celebs and their professional dance partners will flare up and end up all over Access Hollywood in the seasons to come... It's the morning after and I have spoken to my Executive Producer by phone. Sure enough, Drew did exactly what he'll need to do now that he's back in the light... praised his silent partner...his wife. I look forward to letting every word of that air. Changing gears...I have copied something from the Access Hollywood Daybook, the daily bulletin of top items, that I receive at 6am every day.... Too funny: Army Archerd reports that while Oscars producer Gil Cates has informed the rappers behind the Oscar-nominated song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" (from "Hustle & Flow") that they cannot use the f-word, s-word or n-word in their performance, the terms "bitch" and "ho" will be acceptable for telecast. (armyarcherd.com) The idea of Gil Cates saying "Bitch" and/or "Ho" kills me. I have to believe he spelled it "Hoe" the first time. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:02 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Sasha Cohen February 22, 2006 (Reporting from Torino) Teddy Roosevelt said, "Speak softly but carry a big stick." US figure skater, Sasha Cohen, had no choice about speaking softly...she was our clean-cut favorite, no drama, no extra hype. Emily Hughes immediately assumed the Cinderella story and the whole 'possible family repeat' story line; Kimmie Meissner already owned the 'long shot' slot. So, everybody had the highest hopes for Sasha, but nobody 'talked' about her. Boring in a way. Not anymore...after an outstanding skate, she is three one hundreths of a point ahead of second place Russian skater Irina Slutskaya heading into Thursday's long program finale. Way to go Sasha...she is now carrying a big stick and the showdown all the serious figure skaters wanted, has arrived. I just rewatched Sasha's performance on Euro Sport TV from last night...WOW! Total dominance. She has a bit of a reputation as a feisty cat...can be curt and snippy, but it may just be a by-product of her passion and focus. Picture the jubilation in the NBC Olympics Executive suites last night. It's on and the ratings should pop on Thursday as "must-see Sasha" tries to finish the job. Finally, What do Sasha Cohen and Bode Miller have in common? Nothing. Posted by Billy Bush at 3:00 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Whitney Houston February 20, 2006 (Reporting from Torino) I am in my hotel, having breakfast and all of a sudden, Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" came over the in-house PA system and the chatter erupted. You see last night, Whitney came to Torino for a scheduled performance. The best part of it is, she kept her appointment and took to the stage as planned. The bad part is the rest. She forbid all media to roll cameras on the performance, including the official broadcast. Thus, there is no evidence lying around anywhere. But I went table to table to hear what people had to report: "Bad karaoke," says one. "Sang her last song...said goodbye. She came out for an encore although nobody asked her to," according to that same fan. "Off her game. Not singing well. Not pretty and not very gracious as well," says another. Feeling badly about commenting on Whitney, an undeniable legend because of her beautiful voice, the original observer swung by my table to add this: "Her outfits were fierce though...gorgeous." If you're feeling uneasy about it...It's ok. She got paid handsomely for the performance and there's no sound that's re-usable, so the criticism will come and go. Posted by Billy Bush at 1:59 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Torino Talk February 18, 2006 (Reporting from Torino) I am sitting inside the Torino Esposizioni, where team USA and Slovakia are slugging it out in hockey. Given the hustle required to get the job done over here, there's not a lot of time to fraternize. But, it's Saturday night, I have a large brew and one at the ready for this game. The nationalism is ablaze, for both countries. There are guys draped in flags, sporting ridiculous hats, faces painted. Oddly enough there are cheerleaders in the aisles...that is a first for me, a long time hockey player. The Slovak fans are passionate and loud, reveling in the fact that they are on par with America in talent. The game is locked at 0-0, my friend Jeff Kimbell is with me, and we are on edge as the tension in here is loud and raucous...best part, the arena is really small so everything is magnified. Also, the players exit the ice for period breaks through a small door in the corner...in other words, this is a high school rink with a vending machine, if you know what I mean. Look, the marquee Olympic moment is (and will always be) the 'miracle on ice' in 1980, when our American amateurs won it all. These guys now all play professionally, make great money, and that's why this arena needs to look like a high school arena...because we need the innocence of international play. I miss my wife and children, but this is pretty wild. Posted by Billy Bush at 1:58 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Emily Hughes February 17, 2006 This morning I went roller-skating at a small, outdoor rink just outside of Torino. The end. I kid. Olympic Gold medalist in the 5000m race, Chad Hedrick and I did a shoot getting back to his roots. He grew up in a roller rink owned by his dad. He was the guy who would "shoot the duck" with such bravado, he'd then have his pick of the litter for the couples skate...to Phil Collins, oh yeah. Riding back to my hotel, the frantic call comes from our AH Bureau in the IBC (International Broadcast Center)..."Emily Hughes is in the building. Just did a 2-way remote with Katie (Couric)...can you get here?" Right now, Emily Hughes IS the big drama at the Olympics. Lillehammer had Jeff Gillooly and Tonya Harding. Salt Lake had Sarah Hughes coming out of nowhere. Torino has Michelle Kwan stepping out of the way for Emily...a kid who was hanging out in Long Island 2 days ago. "Of course, I'll get there and figure something out." I arrived and immediately headed toward the Press Conference in progress. The stairs leading to the green room caught my eye and down I went, figuring a one-on-one after the world press asks their always serious, serious, nuanced questions, would be best for her and me. She emerged from the conference and there I was cameras rolling. She was surprised, happy, cute, funny, overwhelmed. It was raw and real and will be great on air. But...my producer later told me that her publicist was mad. About what, I thought...3 minutes on our show instead of 30 seconds? This is her moment and to be on Access Hollywood at the Olympics?? Her friends at home will freak. I wrote the publicist and apologized. I confess to feeling a little embarrassed as I am so used to Olympians being pumped to be on our air. But Emily was as sweet as could be. She told a funny story. And she will be all over our air tonight, because she's a real 'American Idol'. No she doesn't sing, but she's chasing her dream in front of foreign judges, and everyone's pulling for her. Posted by Billy Bush at 1:54 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry Shopping With Katie Couric February 15, 2006 You've got to love the rowdy snowboard team...we've had fun ribbing halfpipe gold medalist Shaun White over his prime time announced crush on skater, Sasha Cohen. Today, I went shopping with women's halfpipe silver medalist, Gretchen Bleiler. First of all, if there's a cuter athlete to have ever competed, I haven't seen her yet. And secondly, she tore into a particular women's clothing store and went nuts. She bought two pairs of shoes and a handbag in the time it took me to go to the bathroom. One pair of shoes was so hot, I bought a pair for my wife. Speaking of shoes, I have been sporting a pair of "mugs" over here...Uggs for men if you will. Katie Couric and I were having coffee in a cafe over here, when her wandering eyes landed on my footwear. She was appalled and insisted I go with her to find some Italian loafers...not my first thought, as I usually like something thicker and with a lift. But, off we went...After she went through five or six rejections from me, she found the golden slippers...and now, I own them. I have not found the right moment to work my new look...and I may never. Anyways, my thanks to Katie for a solid effort. On another topic... Part of the greatness of America is the freedom to choose: choose your religion, your lover, someone else's lover, whatever... We are even free to choose a charming, though caustic British judge who stamps on our young American dreams (while filling our living rooms with guilt-ridden laughter) over the Olympics, where our young Americans lay it all out for the Red, White and Blue along with the best from the rest of the world. I'm no blind jingoist, but Simon Cowell kicked Bode Miller and unknown Ted Ligety's collective rears last night in ratings. I'm here. I see it. They're laying it all out and chasing dreams. They're representing the future of America in the face of the rest of the world. It's real drama and I wish more people chose it over some guy whose singing is worse than the worst you've ever heard. Maybe Sir Simon will move to daytime until the very BEST performances are done. Surely, we'd rather see the best of our youth succeed, rather than the weakest fail? I should stop here. Gotta run...more food has arrived. Help. Posted by Billy Bush at 1:45 PM - Link to this entry - E-Mail This Entry

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