People: The truthiness will prevail
It’s been a rough year for Stephen Colbert.
Sure, the mock pundit of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” topped the best-seller lists with “I Am America (And So Can You!).”
But he failed to get onto the primary ballot in his home state of South Carolina, dooming his tongue-in-cheek hopes for the White House.
He went 0-for-4 at the Emmys, including a particularly painful loss to Barry Manilow. And there’s the messy writers’ strike that’s been keeping him off the air (he’ll be back Jan. 7).
But some consolation came Thursday when Colbert was named AP Celebrity of the Year by newspaper editors and broadcast producers.
He finished just a nudge above J.K. Rowling, who released her final “Harry Potter” book.
Placing third was Al Gore, whose year included an Oscar, an Emmy, a Nobel Peace Prize and the global concert Live Earth.
“In receiving this award, I am pleased that I was chosen over two great spinners of fantasy – J.K. Rowling and Al Gore,” Colbert said.
“Best of all, this makes me the official front-runner for next year’s Drug-Fueled Downward Spiral of the Year.
“P.S. Look for my baby bump this spring!”
Bus-ted again
R. Kelly avoided arrest by showing up in court Thursday.
But the judge in his child pornography case said he’ll consider revoking the singer’s bond despite his excuse: that police made him late.
Kelly’s attorney explained that he missed a hearing Wednesday because police who pulled over his tour bus in Utah discovered the log book didn’t document enough rest for the driver and ordered it stopped for eight hours.
Prosecutors claim Kelly videotaped sex acts with a teenage girl. He has pleaded not guilty.
Tony cries foul
Basketball star Tony Parker has sued a celebrity gossip Web site that claimed he had an affair with a French model.
The San Antonio Spurs point guard says X17online.com posted “false and defamatory” stories saying he cheated on his wife, “Desperate Housewives” star Eva Longoria.
He’s seeking at least $40 million in damages.
Attempting too many passes?
Jessica Simpson has become Public Enemy No. 1 among Dallas Cowboys fans because of a link being made between her appearance at Sunday’s game and the poor performance of her new boyfriend, quarterback Tony Romo.
Romo had what was statistically the worst game of his career while Simpson sat in a luxury box wearing a pink No. 9 jersey she proudly showed off for television cameras.
His previous worst game came last December when then-girlfriend Carrie Underwood was in attendance.
Quoteworthy
Katie Holmes, on what turns on hubby Tom Cruise: “Tom likes me in a suit and a mini every now and then. I like it when he likes it. It makes me blush.”
The birthday bunch
Talk show host Phil Donahue is 72. Actress Jane Fonda is 70. Actor Samuel L. Jackson is 59. Actress Jane Kaczmarek is 52. Actor-comedian Ray Romano is 50. Actor-comedian Andy Dick is 42. Actor Kiefer Sutherland is 41. Actress Julie Delpy is 38. Singer Lukas Rossi (Rock Star Supernova) is 31.