The ‘GMA’: Gal Most Admired
Maybe “Good Morning America” should be renamed “Everybody Loves Diane.”
Diane Sawyer, the ABC morning show’s co-anchor, tops a popularity list of 17 TV news and talk personalities compiled by Gallup.
Among those who expressed an opinion, 88 percent viewed Sawyer favorably.
Brian Williams and Charles Gibson, evening news anchors for NBC and ABC, respectively, were both viewed positively by 87 percent.
Despite a career that ended amid controversy, former CBS anchor Dan Rather was viewed favorably by 73 percent of those with an opinion – edging new CBS anchor Katie Couric, at 72 percent.
Among the other also-rans: Regis Philbin (75 percent), Barbara Walters (70 percent), Larry King (66 percent), Bill O’Reilly (56 percent) and Geraldo Rivera (37 percent).
And bringing up the bottom? None other than Star Jones Reynolds (30 percent), followed by her soon-to-be replacement on “The View,” Rosie O’Donnell (35 percent).
Bottling it up
Robin Williams is seeking treatment for a relapse into alcoholism.
The 55-year-old comedian, who had been sober for 20 years, “found himself drinking again and has decided to take proactive measures to deal with this for his own well-being and the well-being of his family,” his publicist said.
Williams, whose new film is “The Night Listener,” is set to star in “Man of the Year,” due in October, and as an animated penguin in “Happy Feet,” slated for November release.
I see greedy people
Bruce Willis is suing a childhood friend whom he says tried to extort $100,000 and a car from him by threatening to release private photos.
The suit claims that Bruce DiMattia, who had been responsible for organizing the actor’s personal items, was “overcome by greed” and was “jealous of his former friend’s success.”
Mine, mine, mine
You may have heard that Paul McCartney hired Prince Charles‘ former divorce lawyer, Fiona Shackleton, to handle his split from second wife Heather Mills McCartney.
Now comes news that she has retained Anthony Julius, the attorney who reportedly secured a $30-or-so million settlement in that case for Princess Diana.
Critics have charged that Mills McCartney has long emulated the late Diana, in part by campaigning against land mines.
Double-barreled bimbo
Lindsay Lohan says she wants to go to Iraq with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to entertain American troops, following in the footsteps of Marilyn Monroe‘s trip to Korea in 1954.
“It’s so amazing seeing that one woman just going somewhere, this beautiful sex kitten, who’s basically a pinup, which is what I’ve always aspired to be,” Lohan says, adding that she would prepare by taking shooting lessons from her security guard.
The birthday bunch
Sausage king Jimmy Dean is 78. Singer Eddie Fisher is 78. Singer-flutist Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) is 59. Actress Rosanna Arquette is 47. Actor Antonio Banderas is 46. Singer Michael Bivins (New Edition) is 38. Actress Angie Harmon (“Law and Order”) is 34.