MADISON Avenue moms-to-be like Sarah Jessica Parker and Jessica Seinfeld, and new mom Anne Heche will be kicking off their pricey Manolo Blahniks in favor of comfy, old, worn Justin Boots, if they choose to listen to Maury Povich.
The veteran talk-show host – who’s had lots of experience as a dad, including rearing 8-year-old adopted son Matthew Jay with wife Connie Chung – will have parents doing the do-si-do with their offspring after they see his soon-to-be-released country baby video. The 90-minute “Dixie Chicks meet Old MacDonald” tutorial promises healthy parent-child bonding with barnyard hand puppets and simple square-dance moves. Yee-haw!
DESPITE Judge Lloyd Nash’s ruling last week that once again denied bail to accused wife-killer Robert Blake, the former “Baretta” star is getting over his disappointment by patiently plotting his strategy for the upcoming trial, which insiders say will be explosive and laden with shocking twists and turns.
Recent photos show Blake’s black hair has grayed as he cools his heels behind bars, but his mighty mouthpiece, Harland Braun, told me: “Blake knows the system takes a while. It’s clear the prosecution is not giving him a fair trial.”
Acknowledging that his client could have a long wait for his day in court, Braun adds, “They are keeping Blake until they feel ready.” Braun insists Blake is readying himself for trial with plenty of reading material. But considering Blake’s on-the-record dyslexia and the prosecutors’ wish to keep him “suppressed,” may I suggest “War and Peace”?
REGIS Philbin wants the world to know that “there is absolutely no rift” between him and co-star Kelly Ripa. “It’s getting ridiculous,” the debonair, wisecracking talk-show host says of some recent stories about a feud between them.
One story, about an argument that arose after Kelly threw some breast-feeding pads into the trash in front of Regis, was way off the mark, I’m told. “When it happened, Regis and Kelly couldn’t help but get hysterical. They laughed so hard it was difficult to get the morning show started,” says spokeswoman Donna Dolenz. “I can assure you there is no rift or rivalry – in fact, the pair’s only problem seems to be laughing too much!”
WHILE playing the blissfully happy newlywed has Joan Collins in seventh heaven, her sister, Jackie, will celebrate a quickie Nevada divorce next spring with the release of her newest nonfiction tale, “Hollywood Divorces.”
“Divorces are sooo juicy,” says Jackie Collins, who, by the way, has just landed her own radio gig in Hollywood. “In the end, both sides are eager to air the other’s dirty laundry.” Expect Collins to tell all in her new tome with plenty of name-dropping and scandals as only she can!
ROCKER Tommy Lee pitched for plenty of sympathy in last week’s VH1 special, which portrayed the notorious bad boy as a perfect father. But the show left his ex-wife, Pam Anderson, steaming.
The pair are in a bitter custody fight for their children, Brandon and Dylan, and Pam saw last week’s show as a bit of a sucker punch. She has promised to take the gloves off from now on in this no-holds-barred contest.
“My children are the most important part of my life and worth every minute of the messy battle,” the hands-on sexy mom told me.
VICTORIA’S SECRET: R&B princess Ashanti is in for a big birthday surprise today. As you read this, the singer will be en route to the Bahamas to perform at the Atlantis (or so she thinks).
I can now reveal Murder Inc. record mogul Irv Gotti intends to surprise her by flying her entire family (and that includes aunts, uncles and cousins) to the island paradise to celebrate her birthday.
Since she was a child, Ashanti has celebrated her birthdays with all of her family, so she was rather depressed last week when she learned that she had to work this year. I think this fantastic surprise will have this songbird smiling for the next 12 months!