Star vs. Barbara

Star Jones Responds to Barbara Walters' Memoir
BY USMAGAZINE.COM
May 7, 2008, 9:55 am PDT
celebs: Barbara Walters Star Jones Reynolds

Star Jones is speaking out against Barbara Walters for including her in her new memoir, "Audition."

In the book, Walters claims Jones forced her to lie about her gastric bypass surgery on "The View." Walters also reveals that she had an affair with then-married Senator Edward Brooke during the 1970s.

Usmagazine.com caught up with Jones (who recently split from husband Al Reynolds) as she left a tennis workout in NYC Wednesday.

"It is a sad day when an icon like Barbara Walters, in the sunset of her life, is reduced to publicly branding herself as an adulterer, humiliating an innocent family with accounts of her illicit affair, and speaking negatively against me all for the sake of selling a book," Jones told Us. "It speaks to her true character."

OK. Can we back up a bit?

First of all, Star Jones is a publicity hog and I'm sure it is killing her that Barbara is getting a bunch of mileage out of the book.

2nd, Star is the one who pimped out her wedding by getting companies to donate their services and merchandise in return for Star talking about them and promoting them. So why is she upset with Barbara for using her name in the book to sell books?

3rd, I thought Star was going into quasi-seclusion since she is going through a divorce and doesn't want a bunch of attention?

"Pot. I'd like to introduce you to Kettle. Oh, and have you met Cauldron?"

WORD OF THE DAY:
Main Entry: hyp·o·crite
Pronunciation: \ˈhi-pə-ˌkrit\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English ypocrite, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin hypocrita, from Greek hypokritēs actor, hypocrite, from hypokrinesthai
Date: 13th century
1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings
— hypocrite adjective

Diva alert!!!!

There's been lots of stuff on the telly recently. I know. It's May. Sweeps month.

I didn't get to see all of the Barbara Walters interview on Oprah but what I did see is what I cared about. She gave the scoop on Star Jones and Rosie.

Barbara and I go back a long ways. You see...

When I was a mere child, my parents would turn on the telly in the morning while we were running around getting ready for school. It was always tuned into the Today Show. I didn't follow Barbara when she left to be co-anchor with Harry Reasoner on ABC News. I have watched many of her specials and I always liked her stories on 20/20. So of course I love it when she is on The View. I'm thinking I'm gonna have to read her book.

So now to the topic at hand. Well sorta.

Have you ever agreed to do something that sounded like a good idea but your gut was telling you don't do it? Well, the reason that I didn't finish watching Barbara on Oprah is because runnerOne wanted to go running and I lost track of time and ran out the door without setting the VCR to capture the last part of the interview.

runnerOne thought it would be fun to go trail running along the bayou. OK. Well, it poured down rain yesterday and let's just say it was a bit muddy and slippery back there in the woods. I have enough trouble trail running when it is dry. UGH!

I was losing my footing and hanging on to tree roots to keep from falling flat on my arse. He would get ahead of me and wait and then when I would catch up with him (because he would stop and wait) he would take off running again. UGH!

OK. So I get back to the house and I'm sweating like there is no tomorrow and Calvin needs to be walked and my shoes are caked in mud. So I wash off the shoes and take Calvin for his walk. I get back to the house and I'm still sweating.

So while I'm trying to cool off before I shower, I'm watching Entertainment Tonight. Mark Steines did an interview with Cher, Tina Turner and Oprah. AND...

Cher and Tina are going to be on Oprah on Thursday. YES! This Thursday. So...

Set your VCR, DVR, or Tivo. Leave work early. Stay home from work. Cancel all appointments It looks like it will be a show not to be missed.

SIDEBAR: I sent a text message to Kaye Sedilla who is still in Guadalajara. She said she never got the call from Oprah to participate in the interview and has cried herself to sleep many nights.

Love On The Rocks

Love on the rocks. Ain't no surprise. Pour me a drink and I'll tell you some lies...

I can't remember if I have ever mentioned this and if I have, oh well.

AttyHou received his law degree from University of Houston. He knows someone that dated Star Jones when Star was working on her law degree at UH. The relationship didn't work out but Star's ex-bf remained friends with her and on occasion she would call him up when she was in town. She loved to eat at Pappasito's. On one occasion, AttyHou and his friend went to NYC and met up with Star when she was working in the DA's office.

So that is my story about Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon in regard to Star.

From the get go, there was talk about how long Star's marriage to Al Reynolds would last. Some said it was a farce and she was a beard.

What really put the spotlight on her was how she was always talking about her wedding when she was a co-host on The View. If you're going to put yourself out there like that then you need to be able to deal with public scrutiny. That is one of the reasons Kaye Sedilla keeps such a low profile; she doesn't want the attention. It's also a lesson that the (Desperate) Real HOusewiveS of New York City should take note of.

So here is today's entertainment breaking news:

NEW YORK (AP) -- Three years after tying the knot in a spectacular, over-the-top affair that caused some backlash, Star Jones has decided to end her marriage to banker Al Reynolds.

The 46-year-old TV personality quietly filed divorce papers March 26 in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan. The records are sealed, syndicated entertainment show "Entertainment Tonight" reported Wednesday.

But a representative for SHADOW PR, which represents Jones, confirmed to The Associated Press that she is seeking to end the union.

In a statement to "Entertainment Tonight," Jones said: "Several years ago I made an error in judgment by inviting the media into the most intimate area of my life. A month ago I filed for divorce.

"The dissolution of a marriage is a difficult time in anyone's life that requires privacy with one's thoughts. I have committed myself to handling this situation with dignity and grace and look forward to emerging from this period as a stronger and wiser woman."

It's not the approach Jones took when she threw her uber-lavish, Park Avenue wedding to Reynolds in November 2004. She received criticism for endlessly discussing the wedding - and plugging its sponsors - as a co-host on ABC's "The View." The negative reaction to the affair, which was attended by guests ranging from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to Spike Lee, was cited by Barbara Walters as a reason why Jones' contract wasn't renewed by ABC's "The View" in 2006.

The former prosecutor recently hosted a talk show on truTV.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 3.1

Ask Marilyn

Where did the word “blog” originate?—Alice Sherman, Redington Shores, Fla.

The word “blog” is short for “Web log,” a site one establishes for the purpose of putting one’s thoughts online for the edification or amusement of visitors, who may leave pieces of their own minds before departing.

Star Jones-Reynolds

I'm not posting anything that hasn't already been said so she can't get me for libel.

Anywho. A few years ago when Star Jones had a severe weight loss she declined to say how she did it. In fact, I think she said it was exercise or Pilates or something along that line. OK folks. I run. I exercise. I don't drop weight like that!

So then Rosie calls her out on it and Star gets p!ssed. So then Star starts to say it was a medical intervention.

So after all of this time (I believe it was last week), Star comes out and says she had gastric bypass surgery in 2003 and has lost 160lbs. OK. First of all good for you Star. Seriously. If you weighed 307lbs. then yes, you needed to do something.

HOWEVER, she also stated that she didn't want to talk about herself and reveal to everyone how she lost the weight. EXCUSE ME? Uh....this is the woman who on The View was always sitting there with her all about me attitude? This is the woman who pimped out her wedding? I don't get it. I really don't.

And I know this is all about timing. She's getting ready to go back on the telly with a new show.

Thanx Lee

Lee Hazlewood who wrote and produced These Boots Are Made For Walkin' passed away.

The recording by Nancy Sinatra was released in February 1966 and hit #1 in the U.S. and United Kingdom. Believe it or not, I remember hearing that song on the radio and remember my parents have the the vinyl 45rpm.

Thanx Lee for giving us that song. It is STILL one of my favorites.

Running & Sleeping

OK. I'm still having some wild dreams at night. Black clouds. A friend's car needing repair. Being in Ciudad Juarez. Seeing a flying saucer car driving down the streets of Juarez (as someone said that could be classified as a true illegal alien).

I got up early on Monday and went to the park and did a 3 mile run. Did some weights yesterday. Went to bed early. Couldn't get up early this morning to go running. Tsetse fly again? Not sure.

I don't mean to sound like Star Jones but...

Longtime regular viewers of The View will remember that on a frequent basis Star Jones would say, “I’m an attorney…” It became a running joke on Saturday Night Live.

So I apologize in advance for using the phrase, “You know I’m on the Board for Legacy...” I'll be using it quite a bit in upcoming posts.

Legacy Community Health Services(formerly Montrose Clinic and The Assistance Fund) is a Federally Qualified Health Center. I serve as Vice Chair and serve on the Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Fund Development Committee and Special Programs Committee. BFF AttyHou (Jim) is also on the Board. He is Chair of the Special Programs Committee and serves on the Fund Development Committee.

So…the reason for me mentioning Legacy is because we have quite a bit going on and I hope that at some point you will attend one of the events or make a contribution. (Online contributions are accepted.)

If you are in the Houston area, we could really use items for the resale shop. BFF AttyHou and I talk about this quite a bit. The store is located at 1232 Westheimer. For information about donating items, you can go by the store (Tue-Sat) or call 713-528-1653.


Upcoming events:

• Saturday, June 9. 700p-1000p. Artist reception at M2 Gallery, 325 West 19th. A portion of exhibition proceeds go to Legacy.
  


• Saturday, June 9. 600p-900p. Jocks In Dresses at Rich’s-Houston, 2401 San Jacinto. Montrose Softball League is donating proceeds from this benefit go to Legacy. Admission is $20.00.
  


• Wednesday, June 10. 600p-730p. Grand Opening of A Lasting Legacy Resale Store. (see above for address)
  


• Sunday, July 15. 300p-700p. Miss Mint Julep Contest at Rich’s-Houston. More details to follow in a separate post but the city is buzzing with the news that Kaye Sedilla will return for her once a year appearance!!!!!!