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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check
June 23, 2010
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In Sick Bay:
SHANNON TAVAREZ, who played "Nala" in the Broadway production of "The Lion King" is a sick little girl. BroadwayWorld.com reports she was diagnosed with acute leukemia last April and is undergoing chemotherapy at Schneider Children's Hospital in Long Island, New York, while awaiting a bone marrow transplant.
Editor's Note: Despite the marvels of modern science, there's still no price tag on blood, tissue, organ or marrow donation --to find out if you are a match for Shannon or anyone else, click here: http://www.getswabbed.org. (Lee)The President at play:
High drama at the White House today: Will Gen STANLEY McCHRYSTAL resign or will PRESIDENT OBAMA fire him?
It all rises out of a Rolling Stone article that features McChrystal and his staff casually insulting the Obama administration.
So what got said?
The story, titled "Runaway General," broke late Monday, within 48 hours of the administration's monthly meeting on Afghanistan. McChrystal usually participates via videoconference --not this time.
McChrystal, the article reports, took control of the war, the article states, "by never taking his eye off the real enemy: The wimps in the White House." He called Obama "disappointing." Aides called NSA advisor JIM JONES "a clown stuck in 1985," and referred to Vice President JOE BIDEN as "Do you mean 'Bite Me?'"
McChrystal couldn't apologize fast enough, writing in a released statement yesterday: "Throughout my career, I have lived by the principles of personal honor and professional integrity. What is reflected in this article falls far short of that standard."
It was actually McChrystal's aides who did most of the damage (reporting that McChyrstal thinks of diplomat RICHARD HOLBROOKE as "a wounded animal" and Ambassador KARL EIKENBERRY as someone who "covers his flank for the history books").Cover Girl /Poster Boy for the skank set:
Remember the real-life "Runaway Bride," JENNIFER WILBANKS? The poor gal is broke! The NY Post's Page Six gossip column reports the woman who faked her own kidnapping before her nuptials to former fiance JASON MASON is now bankrupt, unemployed and living off her latest boyfriend, who seems quite generous. The never-married media darling claims her only income is the $1,000-per-month stipend he hands over. (Lee)
Guilty Pleasures:
No winner in Saturday night's drawing for the Powerball Lottery. That means tonight's drawing is valued at $97 million ($50.2 million cash value). Powerball is played in 41 states, Washington DC and the U-S Virgin Islands. Chances of winning the grand prize (all five numbers plus the powerball) are 1 in 195.2 million.
Casting Call:
We told you a couple of weeks ago that Paramount Pictures was struggling to find a lead for its "Footloose" reboot after both "High School Musical" star ZAC EFRON and "Gossip Girl's" CHACE CRAWFORD dropped out.
Yesterday --after a "nationwide casting call," Paramount announced that they've found a guy to fill KEVIN BACON's shoes, and it will be "newcomer" (read: "unknown") KENNY WORMALD.
The good news: "Dancing With The Stars" hoofer JULIANNE HOUGH is still slated to be the film's leading lady. It'll be in theatres Apr 01 of next year. -
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