Posted on Wed, Oct. 28, 2009
FORMER GOP vice presidential candidate
Sarah Palin received at least $1.25 million from publisher HarperCollins for her hugely anticipated memoir "Going Rogue," according to a financial disclosure statement released yesterday. The statement concerned Palin's finances from Jan. 1 to July 27, when she resigned as Alaska's governor.
Her spokeswoman, Meghan Stapleton, declined to provide more details of the book deal.
It's likely she will be make more money when it's all said and done. "Going Rogue" catapulted to No. 1 on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com after HarperCollins announced in late September that it had moved up the release date of 1.5 million copies from spring to Nov. 17.
Palin will appear on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" the day before the book comes out. It's No. 6 on Amazon.com and No. 11 on Barnes & Noble.com.
Palin has mostly been out of the public eye while working with a ghostwriter on the memoir. Since resigning, she's made only a few public appearances including a September speech before investors in Hong Kong.
She's maintained a larger presence on Facebook, posting occasional messages to almost 950,000 fans, the latest posted Monday night announcing her support of conservative candidates in New Jersey and Virginia.
Junior Jacksons get
private screening
Despite being sick with the flu, Michael Jackson's kids were slated to get their own private screening last night of the documentary on their dad's last dance, "Michael Jackson's This Is It."
Sources close to the family told TMZ.com the kids were invited by Sony to see the movie on the Sony lot in Los Angeles.
Michael's mother, Katherine, was not expected to attend.
Having her say
Has anybody compiled a Top 10 list of angry former David Letterman employees who want to publicly scold him for his sexual misbehavior?
Seems like they're starting to add up.
In an article for Vanity Fair.com, contributor Nell Scovell, a TV writer, producer and director, wrote that although Letterman never hit on her, she was aware of "rumors" that the talk show host was having sexual relationships with other female staffers. Other high-level employees were also engaged in sexual relationships with women employees, she said.
"People who have no knowledge of the situation are voicing opinions, so why not me?" she wrote. And there's more.
"Now, I don't want a lawsuit. I don't want compensation. I don't want revenge. I don't want Dave to go down (oh, grow up, people). I just want Dave to hire some qualified female writers and then treat them with respect. And that goes for Jay [Leno] and Conan [O'Brien], too."
Not Microsoft's kinda 'Guy'
Fans of "Family Guy" are chortling about Microsoft's belated discovery that a "Family Guy" special might not jibe with the software giant's corporate image.
On Monday, Microsoft said it's pulling out as sponsor of a "Family Guy" variety show, just two weeks after announcing its sole sponsorship of the special, "Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show," scheduled to air Nov. 8.
The Fox special apparently follows in the racy tradition of the animated "Family Guy" series - just as any fan would expect. It includes "typical 'Family Guy'-style jokes, including riffs on deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest," said Variety, which first reported Microsoft's exit.
The special stars "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane, who voices many of the characters, and Alex Borstein, who furnishes the voice of Peter Griffin's wife, Lois.
The special was billed as a half-hour with no commercial breaks that would seamlessly blend its content with "unique Windows 7-branded programming."
Microsoft had touted the "subversive and unique humor" of the show's co-hosts. But apparently it was all too subversive and unique for Microsoft.
Smith given 'hospital heroin'
A pain management expert says Anna Nicole Smith's doctor prescribed multiple opiates to her, including an addictive drug he called "hospital heroin."
Dr. James Gagne testified yesterday in Los Angeles that Dr. Sandeep Kapoor excessively prescribed drugs to the former Playboy model without a medical basis. Smith died of an accidental drug overdose in 2007.
Gagne testified at a preliminary hearing to determine whether Kapoor and two others should stand trial for allegedly funneling drugs to Smith illegally.
Sorry, but . . .
A Bahamas lawmaker apologized publicly yesterday for remarks that caused a mistrial in the John Travolta extortion case, but he did not reveal who told him that a defendant had been acquitted before a verdict was announced.
Picewell Forbes said his televised assertion that the still-deliberating jury had cleared one of the two defendants, a former Bahamas senator from his party, was "not true."
Senior Justice Anita Allen, who presided over the monthlong trial, has said she is considering a contempt of court charge against Forbes, who is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow.
Former Bahamas Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater is accused of participating in a plot to extort $25 million from the movie star following his son's January death at a family vacation home.
Bridgewater, who is also an attorney, allegedly negotiated on behalf of paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, who had private information about the death of 16-year-old Jett Travolta. Bridgewater and Lightbourne both pleaded not guilty to extortion. A new trial is expected next year.
HOWARD GENSLER is on vacation.
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