Should this come as a surprise? Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s carefully coiffed hair went untouched by “The View” staff before he took to the stage for his live appearance Jan. 26.
“No, he did not use ‘View’ hair and makeup,” a source close to Blago’s appearance confirmed.
In fact, the only person to get near Blago’s bangs was Joy Behar, who gave his famous moptop a tousling — one that came as a total surprise to Blagojevich and ‘View’ staffers.
“That was all Joy doing that all on her own,” says the source.
By all behind-the-scenes accounts, Blagojevich was a low-maintenance guest, but that could be because he had so many people with him. “There were at least 6 or 7 people there, security, assistants, what have you,” says the source. That’s more handlers than even Jennifer Lopez had for her inaugural appearances.
The “View” interview, which was part of a morning-show blitz the day of his Chicago impeachment hearings, also doubled as a Fox interview. Geraldo Rivera was supposed to interview Blagojevich on the same afternoon as his "View" appearance. But Blagojevich’s publicist Glenn Selig “sabotaged my interview,” according to Rivera, “and rather than allow us to be victimized, we pursued him.”
Pursue indeed. Rivera chased Blagojevich down in the “View” parking lot and got an interview with the governor, who confirmed that Oprah Winfrey was a serious front-runner for the senate seat, and not just a “cheap headline.”
Will Aniston steal Brangelina’s Oscar thunder?
Trite as it might be, having Jennifer Aniston on the same red carpet and under the same roof as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie the night of the Oscars would be good for ratings.
That’s probably why Aniston’s name is surfacing as a possible Oscar presenter for the Feb. 22 ceremony. The presenters are being kept under wraps for now, but even just having Pitt's ex-wife on the red carpet might give ratings a boost. It's customary for actors currently promoting films to make a red-carpet appearance at the show anyway. Aniston’s next film, “He’s Just Not That Into You,” opens Feb. 6.
Abdul plays coy about new judge
When asked whether “American Idol” is better off now that the show’s added songwriter Kara DioGuardi to the judges' ranks, Paula Abdul played coy.
“That’s up to the public,” she told Us Magazine at the SAG awards in L.A. Jan. 25.
Abdul did say that the addition has been great for her personally. “It’s great for me because she’s my old roommate and we’re friends," she told Us. "And that bugs Simon, so it’s good for me.”
Sightings
Sundance
Nicky Hilton “marveling” over Givenchy's new mascara wand, while sister Paris is across the room picking up a shopping bag full of jewelry from the Owls Lab at the Sephora Lounge in Park City, Utah on Jan. 17. … Emmy Rossum waiting tables on Jan. 20 at the MySpace Cafe at the Sundance Lift on behalf of Global Green. Uma Thurman, Kevin Spacey, Ashton Kutcher, Ben Affleck, Paris Hilton and Chris Rock all were spotted there throughout the week, too. ... On Jan. 16, Sarah Larson (a.k.a. George Clooney’s ex) and Virginia Madsen were both at the Divine chocolate suite.
Los Angeles
Amy Poehler was spotted scrolling through her BlackBerry Bold to find pics of her baby for Josh Brolin and Diane Lane at the Grey Goose/SAG Awards afterparty. … Britney Spears reading Andrea Buchanan’s book “Note to Self: 30 Women on Hardship, Humiliation, Heartbreak and Overcoming It All” while getting her hair done at Epitome Salon in Bel Air Jan 22. …Denise Richards munching on a patriotic cookie with Carmen Electra at Pepsi’s Pre-Inaugural Celebration in Los Angeles on Jan. 14.
Elsewhere
Janet Jackson and the Sultan of Brunei eating dinner at Cipriani in London Jan. 20. … Sophia Bush, Michelle Trachtenberg and Thom Filicia (who was spotted dancing with locals to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin”) attended the Jan. 22 opening of the W Atlanta-Buckhead.
More on Gov. Rod Blagojevich
Courtney Hazlett delivers the Scoop Monday through Friday on msnbc.com.
