We hear the girls really go for his hourglass figure
Many words come to mind when describing Andy Rooney: Opinionated. Cranky. Curmudgeonly. But sexy? Well, maybe.
The 85-year-old “60 Minutes” commentator is among the candidates on Playgirl magazine’s online ballot for sexiest TV newscaster.
Among the other 17 men on the list: CNN’s Bill Hemmer, MSNBC’s Lester Holt and Fox News Channel’s Shepard Smith.
The “big three” network anchors — Peter Jennings from ABC, Dan Rather from CBS and Tom Brokaw from NBC — also are on the ballot.
“We’re looking for all the elements that make the perfect guy — intelligence, personality and good looks,” said Michelle Zipp, Playgirl’s editor in chief. “We know that ‘handsome’ is really in the eye of the beholder. We’re anxious to see what the outcome will be.”
Voters can click onto www.playgirlmag.com. The winner will be announced in September and profiled in the magazine’s October issue — with his clothes on.
Playgirl also will make a contribution to a charity of the winner’s choice.
Jenna puts the X in ex-“Survivor”
“Survivor” veteran Jenna Lewis is the latest celebrity to have a sex tape show up on the Internet.
The 26-year-old Lewis’ co-star in the tape is believed to be 21-year-old model Travis Wolfe, whom she married last month just before the “Survivor: All-Stars” finale aired.
Fans on “Survivor” message boards are already saying that they know for sure that the woman in the tape is Jenna because she never stops talking throughout.
Catching up with an ‘Angel,’ and a devil
Speaking of Internet sex tapes, Paris Hilton, of “Simple Life” reality TV fame, is reportedly set for a big-screen role in “National Lampoon’s Pledge This!,” a hard-hitting expose of life in college sororities.
Meanwhile, former “Angel” bloodsucker David Boreanaz has landed the title role in the romantic comedy “Mr. Fix-It,” about a lovelorn bachelor who runs an agency that helps guys repair their broken relationships.
He’s more of a method actor
Method Man says he’s unhappy with Fox for whitewashing his new sitcom, “Method and Red,” with fellow rapper Redman.
The pair play hip-hop stars who move into an affluent, predominantly white gated community in the suburbs.
The network is trying too hard to appeal to “middle America” with “lame jokes,” Method Man complained.
“I’m trying to keep this show ghetto, and there’s a way for it to be both ghetto and intelligent,” he said. “But it’s not going that way.”
Don’t mind Lindsay — she’s just a little slow
Teen queen Lindsay Lohan has apologized to mental health watchdogs who slammed her for repeatedly using the word “retarded” in interviews.
The 17-year-old “Mean Girls” star has used the term to deflect questions about everything from her alleged breast implants to her reported feud with rival Hilary Duff.
“It wasn’t meant to offend anyone — it was used as slang,” a Lohan spokeswoman said. “She’ll be more cautious and conscious in the future.”
Quoteworthy
Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington, on performing in conservative Singapore: “It’s a little like being at grandma’s for dinner. You can’t cuss. Usually, I cuss a lot on stage. And I spit to clear my throat.”
The birthday bunch
Singer Billy Davis Jr. (Fifth Dimension) is 64. Musician Mick Jones (The Clash) is 49. Singer Chris Isaak is 48. Actor Sean Hayes is 34. Actor Matt Letscher (“Good Morning, Miami”) is 34. Actor Chris O’Donnell is 34. Actor Jason Schwartzman (“Rushmore”) is 24.