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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

It Just Won’t Be The Same Without Babs Or The Bills

Compiled By Staff Writer Rick Bo

Loose talk

Bill Maher (“Politically Incorrect”), on Newt Gingrich’s use of the B-word: “The Democratic National Committee called it outrageous. The White House says it’s offensive to women. And Bob Dole says it’s offensive to female dogs.”

It was a great story, one that was repeated here a few weeks ago.

A National Football League official asked Barbra Streisand to perform the national anthem at the Super Bowl. Then they called back to cancel, because the invite had already gone to the considerably less stellar Kathie Lee Gifford - singing talk show host and wife of gridiron great-cum-broadcaster Frank Gifford.

The problem is, it didn’t happen.

“The story was truly pulp fiction,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. “We made the invitation to Kathie Lee alone, months ago. We have never had any direct contact with Barbra Streisand.”

For her part, Gifford says she would have gladly stepped aside if Streisand, one of her idols, had wanted the gig.

They’ve gotten as soft as an old pair of boxers

Muhammad Ali turns 53 and Joe Frazier 51 today.

Looks like Daddy’s little girl is going uptown

Eight-year-old Alexa Ray Joel, who’s said to resemble singing father Billy Joel more than mom Christie Brinkley, makes her modeling debut in an upcoming series of ads for the Aeroblu kidswear line.

Grounded is easy when you’re so close to it

At age 12, Kirsten Dunst (“Little Women,” “Interview With the Vampire”) has her Hollywood philosophy down pat. “I’ve got to remember why I’m in this,” she says. “I don’t know why people don’t stay grounded. I’m aware of what happens to some young actors, but I don’t know why. I mean, they act and then they think they’re hot. It’s really stupid.”

How housebreaking, er, heartbreaking to hear

Eighty-year old illustrator Tasha Tudor, whose kids’ book credits include “Little Women” and “The Secret Garden,” confided her own secret to The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville: “I think children nowadays have such atrocious manners … I much prefer dogs.”

Some compliment, considering the competition

Moose (aka “Eddie”), the canine co-star of “Frasier,” has been named grand marshal of the annual Wag-A-Thon parade in Dana Point, Calif. on Feb. 11. “He’s the top dog in TV history,” a spokesperson said. “He’s got a wisdom that far outshines the other people in the show.”

They are the canine equivalent of Kate Moss

But Chihuahuas are the really hot dogs these days, according to Vogue magazine. Rosie O’Donnell has one, Mickey Rourke keeps a pair and designer Kalinka used them in her fall show, explaining: “They just looked adorable.”

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Rick Bonino