Sideshow: Rendell to be NBC analyst

January 26, 2011|By Tirdad Derakhshani, Inquirer Staff Writer
  • Brace yourselves, Italian friends: "Jersey Shore" is coming. The Guidos and Guidettes will arrive for the fourth season. (See "U.S. declares war against Italy.")

Ed Rendell is taking the Sarah Palin route out of politics: media stardom. NBC News says it has hired the former Pennsylvania governor as a political analyst.

"Governor Rendell has never been afraid to share his thoughtful analysis on national and local issues," says NBC prez and local lad Steve Capus, an alum of William Tennent High School in Warminster.

"[Rendell's] extensive experience serving the people of Pennsylvania gives him a unique perspective," adds Capus.

The news comes days after host Keith Olbermann and MSNBC parted company for unknown reasons.

Bret Michaels 'in good spirits'

Bret Michaels, 47, successfully underwent heart surgery at a Phoenix hospital on Monday to repair a hole in his heart (known as a patent foramen ovale or PFO), a rep for the Poison rocker told Life & Style on Tuesday. "Bret is in good spirits," and fiancee Kristi Gibson "has been by his side," said Carmelle Malkovich.

U.S. declares war against Italy

MTV said Tuesday that its zoological study of the worst minds of our generation, Jersey Shore, will invade Italy for its fourth season, viciously taking that sovereign nation hostage in the name of reality TV.

"While the Stateside Jersey Shore locales have become iconic," says MTV exec veep Chris Linn, "it's really the constantly evolving dynamic amongst the cast that keeps them coming back." (Next he'll tell us the show is the culminating dialectical synthesis of Nature and Spirit foretold by Hegel.)

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Snooki, The Situation, JWoww, and pals are "headed to the birthplace of the culture they love and live by," Linn says. "We can't wait to see what erupts as a result."

Dude, it's like, après nous, le déluge . . . .

Kate Middleton gives up job

Kate Middleton, slated to wed Prince William in April, is giving up her flourishing career as a member of her parents' social-event-planning biz, Party Pieces. Buckingham Palace officials confirm that Kate has quit, and is now poised to tackle the really hard job of being a gazillionaire, leisure-class, elite princess.

- John Timpane

Vrooom, vroom . . . pfffft

Orange County Chopper is the real-life, Newburgh, N.Y., custom motorcycle shop featured in Discovery Channel's American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior.

It's run by Paul Teutel Sr., whose disdain for Paul Jr. is a major theme of the show. Well, now there'll be a new major theme: foreclosure.

Seems Teutel père has been withholding mortgage payments ($84K monthly) on his shop in an effort to force the bank to renegotiate his mortgage. (Do not try this at home!) Weirdly enough, it seems to be working: GE Commercial Finance reps say they're talking turkey with Teutel.

- John Timpane

Important news about the important

Howl star James Franco has made a home porno, he declares to Newsweek during a discussion of the great respect he has for porn stars. "I think if anybody who has made a home sex tape knows, what feels best doesn't always look best," he says. (Whaat?)

"I remember when I was 19 doing that, and then watching it back and thinking, oh, that looks horrible." So titillating!


This article includes information from Inquirer wire services and websites. Contact "SideShow" at sideshow@phillynews.com.

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