Dave Grohl, the lead singer of the Foo Fighters, has been promoting a particular Web site to show his support of same-sex marriage, according to E! Online. Grohl is also one of the first in Hollywood to start wearing a white ribbon as a show of same-sex solidarity. "Anybody know about WhiteKnot.org; Grohl asked at a recent benefit. "You know what that's about? I believe in love and I believe in equality and I believe in marriage equality."
A 1979 full-frontal nude photograph of pop superstar Madonna has sold for $37,500, according to Reuters. Photographer Lee Friedlander shot the image—which had a pre-sale estimate of $15,000—when the singer was 20 years old. The Press Association reported that the buyer was Italian businessman Fabrizio Masoni, who owns a a leather-products company.
The late Anna Nicole Smith will be the subject of an opera, the Chicago Tribune reported. Richard Thomas, who co-created "Jerry Springer, The Opera," is working on the book and lyrics for the production, which is slated to premiere in London in 2011.
Hilary Duff and the legendary actress Faye Dunaway are engaged in a feud, according to JustJared.com . When Dunaway heard that Duff is assuming her role in The Story of Bonnie and Clyde, the older actress asked, "Couldn't they at least cast a real actress?" Duff responded, "I think it was a little unnecessary but I might be mad if I looked like that now, too."
ESPN is removing a promotional ad on the cable channel that showed basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal rejecting a "fist kiss" ( which was actually a fist bump ) from sports commentator Mike Breen, according to the Advocate. At one point, O'Neal moves away from Breen on the couch, saying, "No fist kiss, no fiss love, no fist hump. None of that. You're a weirdo, man. Stay over there. Fist kiss. Disgusting." In 2005, O'Neal pursued alleged gay-bashers in Miami, Fla.
Openly gay actor Cheyenne Jackson will guest-star in an episode of TV's Ugly Betty as a gay father, Advocate.com reported. Jackson—who appeared on another ABC show, Life on Mars, Feb. 11—is known for his roles in the movie United 93 and on Broadway in Xanadu.
A Sex in the City sequel is now a done deal after the four lead actresses—Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis—have all signed on, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The 2008 film grossed more than $400 million globally. Writer/director Michael Patrick King is reportedly aiming for a summer 2010 release.
Madonna and Demi Moore will again co-host a party at Maverick Records CEO Guy Oseary's L.A.-area home after this year's Academy Awards ceremony on Feb. 22, according to E! Online. Meanwhile, John's 17th annual Oscar benefit for his AIDS foundation will feature a performance by R&B singer Raphael Saadiq. Also, Vanity Fair will have its soiree after skipping last year because of the writer's strike.
On the heels of her stirring performances at the Grammy Awards and the Super Bowl, singer Jennifer Hudson will kick off her tour April 2 in Philadelphia with R&B crooner Robin Thicke, People.com reported. The singers will then hit several other cities—including Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles—before wrapping up in Houston, Texas, May 8.
Actress Eliza Dushku—probably best known for her role as Faith on TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer—has signed on to produce a biopic about controversial gay artist Robert Mapplethorpe, according to Black Book Magazine. In doing so, she has cast brother Nate Dushku, a onetime yoga instructor, in the lead. Mapplethorpe died of AIDS in 1989 at age 42.
This has been a week full of news, so we're launching right into the Grammys—or, rather, Clive Davis' pre-Grammys festivities. The granddaddy of the music industry typically showcases his current protégé alongside more established stars. This year, both categories collided in Whitney Houston. Poised for a comeback, Houston had a lot banking on this show. She looked fabulous in a skintight leopard-print dress, a good wig, and nary a bead of sweat on her face. Then she sang. Not with abandon, mind you. She somewhat tentatively got through "I Will Always Love You," "I Believe In You and Me" and "It's Not Right, But It's Okay" in versions that did nothing to tax her constricted vocal abilities. But she proved that she could get through it—and admirably. And we can prove what we just said—by showing you a video of her set on BillyMasters.com .
As to the Grammys, am I the only one who looks at the Jonas Brothers and thinks the Rockland Brothers in about a decade?
A boy-bander has gotten his shit together and is looking pretty damn good. Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys and the tragedy that was "House of Carter" was a drunken, fat mess. At his peak, he was 224 pounds and was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy—brought on by years of binge drinking, heavy drug use and a sedentary lifestyle. Doctors told him he needed a drastic change. Despite some setbacks ( including some birthday shots at the Key Club ) , Nick is now a really hot, sober, ripped guy, weighing in at 167. Check out the brand new shirtless photo on BillyMasters.com .
I also don't believe a thing about Madonna and this Jesus Luz character. I put him in the Tony Ward category—albeit with an accent ( not that Tony was noted for his elocution ) . It reminds me of how she acted just after getting famous: she'd drive around NYC looking for hot, scrawny, homeless-looking Latin boys; invite them into the limo; fuck them; give them some cash; and ditch them. Now, being pre-menopausal ( at the very least ) , I suspect the scenario is somewhat different: invite them over; get Steven Klein to take some pics; give them some cash; and ditch them—all the better for us, since "W" ran the pics, which I'm sure will turn up on BillyMasters.com . I warn you in advance—the snaps look like outtakes of the "Justify My Love" video. Not exactly cutting-edge.
Did you know that Madonna was born exactly one day before Belinda Carlisle? So, while that makes Madonna the elder statesman, it makes Belinda a perpetual pop princess. And she'll be bringing her babe-ness to ABC as she competes on the latest installment of "Dancing with the Stars". Obviously you know who I'll be rooting for, right? Not so fast...my beloved Nancy O'Dell from "Access Hollywood" ( and the best legs in showbiz journalism ) is also in the race. I'm curious to see how many weeks it will take before Lil' Kim exposes a breast—or shanks someone! Denise Richards should be fun because she'll eventually dissolve into a psychotic mess and snap on live TV. But for the bulk of my fans, the main attraction will be Gilles Marini—the actor who played the stud living next door to Kim Catrall in the Sex and the City movie who had a penchant for showering al fresco ( and, yes, you can see every inch of his dick on BillyMasters.com ) .
Once again, we hear that Nicollette Sheridan is exiting Desperate Housewives. This is not her first departure from the show. Last year, she was driven out of town, but was brought back with the five-year jump in chronology. This time around, we hear she's not quite as lucky, with the exit being permanent.
Elsewhere on ABC, Grey's Anatomy is rumored to be losing Katherine Heigl and TR Knight. Let me take this opportunity to yawn. Do these people have career opportunities that I am unaware of? My darling Lynn Samuels, the doyenne of Sirius Left, advised Heigl, "Remember Shelley Long and that thriving film career she left 'Cheers' for." And TR ... well, he always has his babysitting to fall back on ... literally.
This week's "Ask Billy" question comes from Joby in Dallas: "I saw 'Slumdog Millionaire' and thought the young actor Dev Patel was cute. I discovered he was on a racy show in England called 'Skins'. Since he was only 17 at the time, is there any chance you might have some pics of him showing his foreskin?"
See? I can give you a scoop, or a funny joke, but this is what you people want from me. Skin, more skin and foreskin! And you ain't alone, Joby. Sharon Stone is also quite taken with Dev and chased him around the BAFTAs all night ( and even pinched him ) ! Well, she is the original cougar—just don't take her to a zoo! "Skins" was a nighttime soap in the UK which also featured the talents of the stunningly gorgeous Mitch Hewer, who is currently on the UK series "Britannia High" ( which is kinda like "High School Musical" meets "Knots Landing" ) . I do have all of the "Skins" episodes, and the most "skin" we see from Dev is in episode 9, when he is caught looking out the window completely naked. The nudity is full back, side, but sadly, covering the fore department. I'll post the pics and footage on BillyMasters.com .
When Carter has a six-pack he can't drink, it's definitely time to end yet another column. No time to do anything more than remind you to check out an extended version of this column ( with nasty pics ) on www.BillyMasters.com . If you have a query for me, drop a note to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Sharon Stone films the Mary Kay LeTourneau story! Until next time, remember, one man's gossip is another man's bible.
