The last thing Lindsay Lohan wanted was news leaking that her possible $1 million deal to talk about her relationship with Samantha Ronson has come to a halt.
Page Six reported on Monday, June 2, that Lohan was negotiating with OK! magazine about doing just such a thing. (Lohan’s camp said that she passed on the deal, and the mag said they don’t comment on future deals.) According to a source close to the family, Lohan is afraid this news might jeopardize future exclusives, which is bad news because she needs the cash.
“She might not have wanted to do a cover before when it was actually news (that she’s dating Samantha Ronson), but she wants someone to do the story now, she needs the money," said the source. “Of course a deal isn’t going to work now, after so many pictures of the two of them have already gone public.”
Lohan does not have any significant work lined up and is aware that her star has fallen considerably, said the friend. “She can’t believe Britney Spears got so much attention for ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and no one cared that (Lohan) was on ‘Ugly Betty.’ Even Jamie Lynn (Spears) has managed to steal the little-sister spotlight from Ali (Lohan) by timing the end of her pregnancy with the start of ‘Living Lohan.’ It’s not an auspicious season for the family.”
‘Lost’ actor says he was killed off for racial reasons
In the days since the “Lost” season finale aired, theories about time travel, John Locke’s death and the Oceanic Six have been bandied about, but theories about racially motivated character offing? Not so much — until now.
Harold Perrineau, who played Michael up until the character was exploded off the freighter in the finale, tells TV Guide that he can’t help but draw the conclusion that race was a factor.
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“Listen, if I’m being really candid, there are all these questions about how they respond to black people on the show,” he told TV Guide. “Sayid gets to meet Nadia again, and Desmond and Penny hook up again, but a little black boy and his father hooking up, that wasn’t interesting? Instead, Walt just winds up being another fatherless child. It plays into a really big, weird stereotype and, being a black person myself, that wasn’t so interesting.”
“Lost” executive producer Carlton Cuse responded in the publication, saying, “We pride ourselves on having a very racially diverse cast. It’s painful when any actor’s story line ends on the show. Harold is a fantastic actor whose presence added enormously to ‘Lost.’”
All that said, Perrineau told TV Guide he’d consider returning to the show if asked — so long as he knows the storyline first.
Emmy committee, are you listening?
Nominating ballots for the 2008 Primetime Emmy awards are being posted this week, so I’m taking the opportunity to give shout-outs to some actors I feel deserve a nomination.
First among them: Blair Underwood. Underwood has been a household name for more than two decades and has yet to score an Emmy nod. His work on the HBO series “In Treatment” should change things. In his role as Alex, an arrogant Navy fighter pilot who bombed a school in Iraq and killed 16 children, he was subtle, layered and delivered quite possibly the best series performance of his career. Give the guy a nod.
Erik Estrada: Another reunion is possible
Erik Estrada isn’t about to bite the hand that feeds him. The “CHiPs” star (who is also promoting the complete second season DVD of the show, which goes on sale June 3) says that he’s definitely up for another reunion show, if the offer were to come his way.
“I love Ponch, I love the show, I love what it did for me and my family,” said Estrada. “People, when they see me, they’ll yell, ‘Hey Ponch!’ It reminds people of a good time, so yeah, sure. Why not? I think I’d make captain by now.”
In real life, Estrada isn’t a captain, but is a deputy sheriff in Bedford County, Va. He’s also using his celebrity to work with the Safe Surfing Foundation and Internet Crimes Against Children Task force, which works to educate kids K-12 and their parents about Internet safety. “It’s my passion,” said Estrada.
Did you hear?Jennifer Aniston isn’t the only celeb with a drink endorsement. Venus Williams has partnered with Powerade Zero, the sports drink company’s new zero-calorie beverage. … DVD sales of the fourth season of “Rescue Me” and the complete series of “Get Smart” both begin this week. …To celebrate the second season of AMC’s “Mad Men,” Bloomingdales will be creating a window inspired by the show’s early 1960s fashions. The new season premieres July 27.