Friday, March 20, 2009

President Obama Is A Hit On The Tonight Show

Heeeere's Barack! President Obama's Thursday summit with Jay Leno gave the Tonight Show its biggest overnight ratings since Leno paid tribute to the late Johnny Carson in January 2005, NBC said.

Now That's Economic Stimulus: Obama's appearance—the first late-night gig for a sitting president—likewise boosted Late Night and Last Call to those shows' best numbers since 2005.
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Oprah Invites Ellen To Be On The Cover Of O Magazine

Oprah Winfrey wants Ellen DeGeneres to be her cover girl.

On Friday's Ellen DeGeneres Show, Winfrey makes a surprise appearance via satellite and offers DeGeneres the gig.

DeGeneres had been vying for cover treatment for some time. She phoned Winfrey's production company Harpo, sang a song about O, made an audience member wear a sandwich board and even sold the magazine after her show.

She also mocked up numerous covers of herself on O.

DeGeneres tells Winfrey she thinks "it's great" she shared her cover for the first time with Michelle Obama for the April issue. "But I thought it would be really fun if we could be on the cover together, you and I."

"I have to tell you when I first heard it about this ... I thought it was such a fantastic idea," Winfrey replies. "I was only sorry that I did not think of it myself. So I am calling to officially invite you on the cover of O."

The crowd cheers.

"I can't believe you're serious. I am freaking out right now," DeGeneres tells her. "My goal is going to be for this to be the biggest selling issue you've ever had. I want that to happen."

The ladies still have to work out one major detail.

"We will coordinate our outfits so we don't clash," says Winfrey. "Maybe I'll wear pants, too."
"All right," DeGeneres tells her. "They're comfortable, Oprah."
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Liam Neeson Gathers With Friends For A Private Viewing Of His Wife

Liam Neeson gathered with friends and loved ones at the American Irish Historical Society on Manhattan's Upper East Side Friday afternoon for a private viewing of his wife Natasha Richardson's body two days after her tragic death following a ski accident while on vacation in Canada.

Among those attending were Uma Thurman, Diane Sawyer and Richardson's mother, Vanessa Redgrave, and sister, Joely Richardson.

At 2:20 p.m., shortly after a silver hearse pulled away from Society headquarters on Fifth Avenue, across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Neeson, in a black suit and dark sunglasses, arrived in a black Mercedes and walked quickly inside with one of his young sons, pausing only long enough to greet one mourner.

Longtime Richardson friend, Mathilde Krim, who is the founding chairman of the AIDS research organization amfAR, described the wake as "very respectful."

The tearful Krim told PEOPLE that Richardson, looked "beautiful, incredibly beautiful" in her casket.

The previous night, when Broadway paid tribute to Richardson by dimming marquee lights for a one minute, Neeson was captured on tape speaking of "a traditional Irish wake," presumably this Friday's event. Soon after Neeson's arrival, Vanessa Redgrave showed up with a small child in her arms.

As those paying respects continued to stream in, food arrived for the mourners commemorating a woman who will long be remembered as one of the theater world's most graceful actresses.

Neeson, who has sons Micheal, 13, and Daniel, 12, with Richardson, married his wife in 1994.

They would have celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary on July 3. In a statement Friday, friend Sarah Jessica Parker, quoting the song lyrics "Every time we say goodbye, I die a little/Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little," said: "It's as if Cole Porter were writing the sentiments of everyone who was privileged enough to know, work with or love the late great Ms. Richardson."
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Charlie Sheen Can't Tell Sons Apart Yet

They're not identical, but Charlie Sheen's new twins are still managing to fool their dad. "I can't tell [who's who]!" Sheen, 43, says from the set of Two and a Half Men just days after wife Brooke Mueller Sheen, 31, delivered twin boys.

"They're not identical, but at this stage, they're similar enough."

Their names, on the other hand, aren't giving him any trouble. Max and Bob "are very short and simple – easy to spell and remember," Sheen says. "Bob is the same frontward and backward. I'm a fan of a short and simple name. Max was literally Nick until about a minute before he came out."

Back home in L.A., the new parents are doing well – but are a little tired. "It's pretty amazing. Not a whole lot of sleep, but what parent does at this stage?" says Sheen. "There's adrenaline, excitement, fear."

And the boys already have eager playmates in half-sisters Lola, 3, and Sam, 5, Sheen's daughters with ex Denise Richards. "[They're] thrilled," he says, "but insisting that they're named Bob and Duke. It's not Max, it's Duke."
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