CNN Eyes Jake Tapper; Masseur Trouble at Sea for John Travolta
Welcome to the Smart Set: CNN wants Jake Tapper, another day, another masseur problem for John Travolta, and Angelina Jolie bought Brad Pitt a chopper.
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There was talk yesterday that CNN was trying to poach Jake Tapper away from ABC, because CNN's powers that be apparently consider him to be a "game-changer." (CNN is also said to be trying to bring in ABC New Correspondent John Berman to do "news on a morning show.") Tapper, for his part, told Mediaite in an email: "Being the White House correspondent for ABC News is a dream job, one I’m focused on 100%. I couldn’t be happier where I am right now.” Not exactly the firmest of denials. [Fishbowl DC]
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What is it with these masseur-types who keep (allegedly) getting in the way of John Travolta's erect penis? According to an official incident report in 2009, Travolta asked Royal Caribbean cruise room steward Fabian Zanzi to give him a neck massage while he was delivering something to his stateroom. Zanzi obliged, at which point Travolta allegedly "told him he was a beautiful person and invited him to return to visit him later that night." Zanzi declined, and apparently reported the neck massage to his superiors, and was disciplined because it violated the company's 'no-fraternization' rules. This was all in a 2009 incident report, but now, per TMZ, Fabian says the incident was much more graphic than initially reported and is "claiming Travolta opened his robe and gave him a big hug while his penis was erect ... and offered him $12,000 for sex and silence." This would bring the total number of masseurs -- neck and otherwise -- to level misconduct charges against Travolta in recent weeks up to five, though at least claim seems to have been disproved by copious flight records. [TMZ]
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Courtney Love apparently "flipped out" Saturday night while attending the interactive play The Forgotten at the McKittrick Hotel in New York and ankled for the exit. This was problematic, because she was supposed to read a new Jay McInerney story "Solace" as part of the production, but was replaced by Piper Perabo, who was on-hand and game. Good for Piper Perabo! [Page Six]
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Noted juggler and tax reform advocate Grover Norquist will play a wino in the upcoming sequel to the not-particularly-successful Atlas Shrugged, the one where the guy who played Jimmy Barrett (Patrick Fischler) had lots to do. He's also going to play a guy who hands a folder to another guy in an office. Before you say SAG violation, Norquist is not a member of the Screen Actor's Guild, he's an extra, so he can hand people envelopes and play pass-out drunk to his heart's content. [The Reliable Source]
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This is sweet! Angelina Jolie bought Brad Pitt $1.6 million helicopter, for helicoptering at Chateau Miraval, their fancy new home in the south of France. She also purchased him lessons, which makes sense. [Page Six]
Well, this is good news: Playboy says a pictorial featuring Patricia Krentcil -- aka, Tanning Mom -- is "definitely never happening," even though she expressed interest in posing for the magazine. But once again interest does not an offer make. [TMZ]
