Beacon Journal | 11/05/2006 | Doogie Howser comes out of closet
HARRIS OUT: TV’s own Doogie Howser, Neil Patrick Harris, has told People magazine he is “a very content gay man.”
Harris, currently co-starring on How I Met Your Mother as the womanizing Barney, made the announcement because of “speculation and interest in my private life and relationships.”
It’s the second recent coming-out by a prime-time star. About two weeks ago, T.R. Knight of Grey’s Anatomy confirmed to People that he is gay.
As far as I know, Isaiah Washington had no comment about Harris.
PITT STOP: The magazine Vanity Fair may perk up sales with a new cover shot of Brad Pitt in underwear and white socks (although several women in my office were unimpressed).
Pitt, who is promoting a new movie, was reportedly not pleased with the photo since it went against his desired image.
“He’s trying to work hard on building his image as a humanitarian and adoptive father, and then this photo… ends up on the cover,” a source told Stephanie D. Smith of Women’s Wear Daily.
Still, the magazine probably made a wise choice. Radaronline.com says Vanity Fair was actually considering Borat for the December cover until it saw Robert Wilson’s photo of Pitt.
CROWE SPEAKS: Fisticuff-prone Russell Crowe also has a new movie to promote, so he’s on 60 Minutes tonight.
Talking about his notorious phone-tossing incident, Crowe tells the show that he regrets it — but the U.S. legal system “is open to be misused.”
“Where I come from, a confrontation like that, as basic and simple as that, would have been satisfied with a handshake and an apology,” says Crowe, who ended up paying considerably more to make the case go away.
COLUMBUS RECAP: Some of the biggest news coming out of Columbus this week was fake news — as Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show did four broadcasts from Ohio State.
Joke topicsincluded Ken Blackwell (“a more doable Katherine Harris”), Ohio State-Michigan (“like Sunni-Shia”), John Kerry (“losing elections he’s not even in”) and Akron itself.
“Columbus. It’s Ohio’s capital,” Stewart said. “In your face, Akron!”
But the biggest news might have come when LeBron James appeared on the show. In awe of the King’s basketball skills, Stewart said, “I don’t mean to offend you, but are you an alien creature?… What can stop you? Is it kryptonite?”
“I don’t know if anyone can stop me right now,” James replied — while never denying the alien creature accusation!
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION: Since I’ve mentioned Pitt, let’s end with him. Between 1994 and 2005, he starred in five movies with a number in the title. Name them.
First correct answer e-mailed to rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com gets something from my Archive of Leftover DVDs and Ridiculous Promotional Items (currently including, besides DVDs, a soft plastic carrot, a small rubbery brain and a metal MP3 holder from Class of 3000). Previous winners are not eligible.
