Reacting To Criticism Is Merely A Basic Instinct
Say this much for Joe Eszterhas: The man is not shy about parading his shortcomings.
Of course, when you get paid millions to write tripe such as “Jade” and “Showgirls,” the term shortcomings is relative.
On Sunday, Eszterhas attended the Hollywood Women’s Press Club annual meeting to accept the Sour Apple Award as “the celebrity who’s least newsworthy or most believing of their own publicity.”
“He is the Andrew Dice Clay of screenwriters,” crowed the New York Times. “His brains seemed to have lowered to another part of his anatomy,” trumpeted the Boston Globe. Right. And, not to be outdone, Eszterhas became the first winner ever to accept the award in person. Previous winners include Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Madonna and Howard Stern.
Loose talk
Bill Gates on the amenities of everyday life (in his book “The Road Ahead”): “A wonderful nonstick frying pan is useful even if you’re the only person who ever buys one.”
Jerry and the ‘Coach’ send their regards
Dick Van Dyke turns 70 today.
Forsooth, folks, she doth protesteth a bit much, eh?
Some celebrities like to bare all. Not, though, Emma Thompson. During a recent interview with USA Today, Thompson balked when asked about her marital woes with estranged husband Kenneth Branagh. “My personal life is not for public consumption,” she told Newsday. “And if my life continues to be invaded in this way I will stop acting!”
And he was gonna sing, ‘On the Good Ship Lollipop’
People always complain about Oliver Stone movies. But just wait: In his forthcoming film “Nixon,” he gives his critics something extra: Bob Hoskins portraying the late FBI director, J. Edgar Hoover, as openly gay. Says Hoskins, the portrayal should come as no surprise, “if you know anything about J. Edgar Hoover. I was going to play him in a pink tutu.”
Short, balding - indeed, he did it against all odds
Quick: Who is Britain’s highest-paid rocker? Mick Jagger? Elton John? Bono? Boy George? Actually, no, no, no and no. That honor belongs to Phil Collins, who splits his solo career with lead-singer duties with Genesis. According to industry analyst Cliff Dane (nice name, Cliff), Collins earned $37.04 million in 1995.
He’s right: They’re not worth $22.50
Now bands are vying to see who can earn the least. Following Pearl Jam’s struggles with Ticketmaster, Green Day has lowered its concert ticket prices by paying itself less. “We’re charging what we’re worth, and we don’t think we’re worth $22.50,” band member Tre Cool told Rolling Stone magazine.
She must believe those silly lyrics she sings
Some people wonder why Whitney Houston sticks with her bad-boy husband Bobby Brown. “I love my sexy baby,” Houston told People magazine. “This has got to be worth fighting for.”
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos
The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Dan Webster