There’S A Difference Between Joely And Gay
“Ellen” remained funny to the end, cast member Joely Fisher insists, although she admits the lesbian themes got overdone.
“Ellen (DeGeneres) constantly makes me laugh,” Fisher, who played gal pal Paige on the now-canceled ABC sitcom, told the New York Daily News. “I just think we got a little too much on the soap box at times.
“Every week, I scanned the script to see where we were going to go with this,” she said. “I think Ellen wanted to get away from the gay story lines, but as soon as you open up, you have to commit to this.
“We certainly lost some audience. People were not ready for the visual.”
Still, she added: “Ultimately, it was not my crusade. I was just the supporting, heterosexual sidekick, which was a great role for me.”
Loose talk
Ed McMahon, on old boss Johnny Carson (in Bikini magazine): “He just doesn’t want to do anything. He doesn’t want to get out; he doesn’t want to go to parties. He wanted to retire. I didn’t want to retire. He did.”
Maybe she’s looking for some new friends
Courteney Cox turns 34 today.
Oh, there are plenty more fish in the sea
Gena Lee Nolin has become the latest “Baywatch” cast member to jump ship. Carmen Electra, Donna D’Errico, Traci Bingham, Marliece Andrada and Angelica Bridges previously announced they would not return for another season.
He must like his marriage on the rocks, too
Long-troubled couple Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown are scheduled to announce their separation today, a source in Houston’s camp told the New York Daily News. During almost six years of marriage (their anniversary is next month), Brown has been arrested several times for incidents involving booze and other women.
You talking to me? There’s no one here
Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower, who mark their first anniversary this week, also are said to be on shaky ground. Hightower reportedly wants the workaholic De Niro, whose film career keeps him constantly on the move around the world, to spend more time with her and their 3-month-old son, Elliott.
Guess they’re both back to playing the field
As long as you’ve got your scorecard out, the Mariah Carey-Derek Jeter fling is officially over. “Media pressure was too much for them as a couple,” said a Carey representative, adding that the two are “still very close.” For his part, the New York Yankee shortstop continues to deny ever even meeting Carey.
And Michael is a member of her unreal family
Janet Jackson, meanwhile, has stopped pretending she’s not married to her keyboard-playing music director, Rene Elizondo. While introducing him at recent concerts, Jackson has added: “He is also a special member of my real family.”