"Yes, I saw 'Twilight'my granddaughter made me watch it, she said it was the greatest vampire film ever. After the 'film' was over, I wanted to smack her across her head with my shoe, but I do not want a book called 'Grannie Dearest' written on me when I die. So instead I gave her a DVD of Murnau's 1922 masterpiece 'Nosferatu' and told her 'Now that's a vampire film!'"You can always count on Lauren Bacall to say it like it is.
I'm a born and raised Bostonian, so I have a special fondness for Ted Kennedy. And I have a personal connection. Back in the 90s, I produced a large AIDS benefit that took place in Symphony Hall and relied on the presence of a European singer. Although no one was getting paid, the State Department informed us we'd need work papers for this person to enter the countrytwo days before the concert! Going through the proper channels, approval would normally take two weeks. We placed a call to Senator Kennedy and he took care of it in two hours! Rest in peace.
Paula Abdul is returning to television, but not FOX ( not yet, anyway ) . She'll be hosting the "VH1 Divas Live" concert Thursday, Sept. 17. Intriguing that Abdul will be on a show where people are singing "live"...but why go there? She'll be in good companyformer "Idols" Kelly Clarkson and Jordin Sparks are part of a roster that also includes Adele, Leona Lewis and Miley Cyrus. Maybe we've simply run out of divas.
Although she's performing in NYC on September 26th, you won't see Barbra Streisand at the "Divas" concert. But you may get to see this diva in a courtroom. She's not particularly happy with a former paramour. A decade ago, Barry Dennen wrote a dishy book, "My Life with Barbra: A Love Story", in which he relates several spicy conversations with Babs about what he'd be writing about. He reminded her that he had three live recordings of her singing in rehearsal and performancecirca 1960. She asked him to give them to her. He refused, saying, "No. They are the only thing I have left of our collaboration." He's apparently had a change of heart, because he's now willing to part with themfor the right price! Yup, he's auctioning off these cherished possessions. But he's no fool. "I'm a little trepidatious. I don't know what the fallout will be. I don't like upsetting Barbra, and I don't want her fans angry at me." I think Salman Rushdie had better luck with that fatwa!
Levi Johnston might get to make good on his promise to pose in the buff. When asked if he would, he said, "The price would have to be right." A few hours later came an offerStraightCollegeMen.com normally pays newbies $500 for a shoot. They're offering Levi 50 times that amount. He'd get $25K plus travel and other expenses to come to Vegas for a shoot that would be legit ( well, as legit as StraightCollegeMen.com can be ) . "Unzipped" magazine has also offered an undisclosed amount directly to Levi and his "people". The mag issued a statement: "As the top-selling nude men's magazine, Levi will receive a level of quality in his shoot that can't be found anywhere else." That's probably true. I'm also hearing rumors of a $50K offer from a video companyif there's another man involved. I think he'll probably pass on that one.
With the upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars," I'm interested to see which Aaron Carter will show upthe young, fun, energetic entertainer who I hung out with a few years ago; the hard-partying addict from "House of Carter"; or the weathered-beyond-his-years, angry, detoxing young man from those tabloid shows. One thing's for sureanything could happen. I just discovered two interesting things. First, he was engaged to defrocked Miss Teen USA Kari Ann Peniche, the chick who's in the Eric Dane/Rebecca Gayheart nude video ( she's now been accused of being a "madam," but that's another story ) . And Carter recently said, "I want to be with an older woman. Age is just a number. Jennifer Aniston would be great, I would love that." Aniston? An older woman? I mean, sure, she's older than him. But would you call her an "older woman"? Be on the lookout for a woman with a grown-out "Rachel" haircut who looks like she might jump off a cliff!
The Ali Forney Center in NYC will now and forever be known as the Bea Arthur Residence for LGBT Youth. Four years ago, Bea flew to the Big Apple and gave a performance of her one-woman show as a benefit for this homeless shelter. That performance raised over $40K. After that, she helped the center expand from two to eight residencesincluding the one that will bear her name. Thank you for Bea-ing a friend.
Because I know you're all gonna salivate, yes, I will post the photos of True Blood actor Mehcad Brooks doing a triathlon in Hawaii last week. He worked up quite a sweat and it certainly did wonders for his physiquehe's never looked better. All that scrumptious skin can be found on BillyMasters.com .
There's no specific "Ask Billy" letter this week. Many of you wrote in wanting details on Zac Efron's latest film project, which probably stems from some photos of him that were leaked to the tabloids from the Vancouver set. The film is called "The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud" and has something to do with a young man who grieves the death of his brother and gets a job in a cemetery. He's so distraught, he dyes his hair blonde and walks around the cemetery shirtless in some snug sweat pants which show his business all bunched upalthough I don't know if it's worded that way in the script! But I call 'em like I see 'em on BillyMasters.com .
A blonde Zac Efron reminds me of porn pup Brent Corrigan. If you're a fan of Brent ( and most of my readers are ) , you'll be happy to know that you'll soon have a chance to see him in the flesh. He's going to be in a play called "The Masseur" where he plays...prepare to be shocked....the masseur!!! Plans are for it to debut in Palm Springs on October 1st, with later shows slated for San Diego, L.A. and, maybe, San Francisco. More details to follow.
When Jennifer Aniston is an older woman, it's time for me to prepare for my 90th birthday and end yet another column. I hate to tell you, but the summer is over. You'd never know it from all the hot hunks in this columnand over at www.BillyMasters.com, the people's choice for delicious dishing. If you've got a question, be creative and be original. Just send it to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Zac hires Brent as his stand in ... or masseur! Until next time, remember, one man's filth is another man's bible.