CLOONEY: The Story Behind the Story...

George Clooney. That's the star's name that immediately comes to mind whenever I am asked this question: "Who is your favorite star in the world to interview?" It's always been George Clooney. Why? Because he's always been a decent, fun-loving, regular, down-to-earth guy. He still is, but I have a little behind-the-scenes story to share with you about why you will most likely not be hearing a lot from George, at least, in television interviews for some time to come.

At the Toronto International Film Festival, George had TWO, count 'em, TWO huge movie premieres, for two EXCELLENT films. "The Men Who Stare at Goats" and "Up in the Air" -- while I loved BOTH of these movies for different reasons, the latter, "Up in the Air" moved me. It's simply a great story. Funny, intense, powerful, timely. Directed by Jason Reitman, it's a story of a guy (Clooney) who's job is to terminate other people's jobs. The poster cleverly uses this line. "A story about a guy looking for a connection" -- so true, on so many different levels. GO see this movie when it comes out.

Back to the premieres. So, of course with two big movies, there will be two opportunities to "connect" with Clooney on the red carpet. At least that's how it's always been. This time, sadly, it was different. George arrived at the "Goats" premiere, hand bandaged still from that unfortunate run-in with a car door, and I was first in line to greet him. I gingerly shook his bad hand, which he graciously extended, and he greeted me warmly: "Jerry! how's it going?" -- GREAT, we're off to a good start... when suddenly, he was gone... slipped out of my grasp and skipped a slew of other reporters on the red carpet, but strategically greeted the other major entertainment outlets the same way: quickly. Those of us who have been used to a different experience with Clooney... a fun and entertaining few minutes with him, talking about the movie, but also catching up, for instance, on the latest pranks he's pulled or Brad Pitt has pulled on him, was non-existant. We were stunned.

Sure, there were a lot of reasons to be in Toronto: Matt Damon, who is another favorite, and who gave me a terrific sit-down interview about his clever and funny new movie "The Informant!" Mariah Carey and Oprah Winfrey, who teamed up for a gut-wrenching movie about abuse, called "Precious" -- it will tear your heart out, and you will be blown away by the performances, particularly by Monique, the comedian who makes a huge dramatic turn as an abusive mother. All that said, I was personally looking forward to my two "red carpet moments" with George.

Later that night, there was an "after-party" for George's movie, and my producer Adam and I attended. We ran into George and his publicist, Stan Rosenfield. Now, a little about Stan. Stan has been good to me, and good to "Extra" over the years. He knows what's best for his clients, and will protect them vigorously, but he also knows when someone is going to treat his client with respect, and therefore, makes his client accessible. He handles not only George, but Charlie Sheen, to name only two, who is another decent, down-to-earth guy, who always gives me "a little something more" in an interview.

While George stood a few feet away, entertaining his party guests, as only George can do -- with humor, grace and class -- Stan spoke to us about why George did a "fly by" on the red carpet, saying essentially, George wants to show up to these premieres for the fans, first and foremost, and to support the film. Period. There will more than likely be no more sit-down interviews, no more talk show appearances, and very little in the way of interviews on the red carpet.

A few minutes later, with drinks in our hands, I toasted George personally, and congratulated him on his two movies... and we had a chance to speak face to face. George was the same welcoming George I've always known him to be. Looking me in the eye while we chatted. Nothing had changed between us personally, and I so appreciate that about Clooney. Do I wish the moment we had off-camera at that party, was on-camera? Of course. Do I understand why George, at this point in his career, doesn't need that anymore? Of course. He's an Oscar-winning superstar who can call the shots on his terms, and why shouldn't he?

Most importantly, I respect that George Clooney remains a gentleman where it counts, and that's in his person-to-person encounters OUT of the spotlight.

No matter what, when asked in the future who my favorite star is to interview? I will still say George Clooney. I just hope I get to bring those interviews with him to you in the future.

Why I Love Toronto...

Just back from TIFF, otherwise known as the Toronto International Film Festival, and with respect to the other festivals around the world that I attend every year (Cannes, Sundance, etc) I have to say I have a special place in my heart for this one. Here's why: it's all about the movies, and it's all about the movie-lovers, the fans... There is NO swag, NO gifting suites (none that are overt, anyway)... Just lines of fans waiting to see the newest crop of movies you'll be seeing this fall. Many of them become Oscar contenders, at least that's what the track record has been for this festival.

I've been going to TIFF for years now, and there's such a warm welcome every time I show up at the first big premiere. This year it was "Jennifer's Body" with Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. It was held at Ryerson University, so the crowd was mostly college-aged kids, and lots of young people... I was so touched that they SCREAMED my name, asked for autographs, which I was so appreciative of. Look, I am no "star", and I don't purport to be one, but in Toronto, I am made to feel like one. I signed, I took pictures with the fans, I listened to their "Ryerson loves Jerry" chants. And I was so damned tickled.

Thanks, Toronto, for making this guy who interviews the stars, feel like one for a night.

Gone Too Soon...

My head and heart are still reeling from the events of today. We knew Farrah Fawcett was, sadly, losing her battle with cancer, yet to hear that she had passed was, nonetheless, heartbreaking and painful. Just hours later, the shock of Michael Jackson's passing was almost unbelievable, in fact, too much to take.

In my business of covering entertainment news, one must remain stoic while reporting these stories, but I must tell you, I broke down in private several times today. You'd have to be inhuman to not feel the sadness of such tragic situations, human loss. And it didn't begin today, it started earlier this week.

First it was a former colleague, a very successful sportscaster from Philly who succumbed to prostate cancer at the young age of 54. Gary Pappa was a father, a husband, a friend. And worked til the very end, even doing the sports on station WPVI while losing his hair. He will be missed. Then, Ed McMahon, whom I had the distinct pleasure of being welcomed into his home, and working with him on several occasions. A class act all the way, and a family man to the core. Then today...

I am shaken, saddened, yet trying in earnest to celebrate the lives of these icons. On Jackson's album "Dangerous" is a song titled "Gone Too Soon" ... say no more.

Grab Some "Local Color"

I began painting as a therapeutic hobby about 7 years ago. Not trained. Self taught. With simply a passion driving me, I picked up a canvas and some brushes one day because I had always wanted to paint, but never thought I could. Some might say I still can't. But that doesn't stop me.

Therein lies the plot line for a new movie that utterly took me by surprise, "Local Color" -- written and directed by George Gallo, who truly is a renaissance man: filmaker, actor, writer, and yes, painter. He began painting in the same way I did, but when he was much, much younger. This movie is his story.

You don't have to be an artist to fall in love with this film. You don't even have to like art. You just have to love a great story, brilliantly photographed and masterfully acted by Armin Mueller-Stahl, Trevor Morgan, Ray Liotta, and Samantha Mathis, to name a few of the top-notch cast. With his words and direction, Gallo paints a moving portrait of love, passion and attainable dreams.

"Local Color" opens July 3rd. Go see it. It will renew your spirit and inspire you to not just dream your dreams, but live them.

Yes We Cannes!

Just got back from the South of France... ahhhhhh... but before you get too jealous, know this: the Cannes Film Festival is more than a day at the beach and a slice of brie on a baguette, washed down with a chilled French champagne. It's work, my friends. Granted, working there beats the hell out of, well, working just about anywhere else, but still...

Ok, highlights: the movie "Middlemen" and meeting all the cast, producers, director... and they sure know how to throw a party! The movie opens this Fall. Run, don't walk, to see this one. "Broken Embraces" -- Pedro Almadovar's new movie with, shocker, Penelope Cruz, for I think the 15th time (actually, the fourth, I believe) ... it's subtitled, of course, but the humor, drama, and nuances translate very well.

Random Cannes moments: taking a boatride to the Hotel du Cap (where all the stars stay) and seeing the paparazzi camped out on the craggy rocks trying to get shots of us, thinking we're 'somebody'. Those crazy paps. Oh, and having a police escort - SIX motorcycle gendarmes - to scoot a shuttle bus of press people to the Hotel du Cap for the annual AmFar benefit raising money for AIDS research. On the way, the motorcycle cops were so earnest in shoo'ing the traffic away in order to get us through the narrow streets of Provence to our destination, that two of the cycles sideswiped each other and got into an accident right in front of us!! (see pic) No one was hurt.

Aside from the motorcycle cop mishap, the AmFar benefit was actually an event and a half. Security crawling everywhere, on rooftops, in bushes, at the du Cap because President Clinton was one of the guests. All the stars were in rare form, including the mistress of ceremonies, Sharon Stone, who poo-poo'ed those tabloid reports that she's too thin, explaining that eating right, and exercising makes you lean and mean... imagine that... Zoe Saldana looked smashing. Rob Pattinson decided he was too big a star to walk the carpet. Hmmm. The only other person who didn't walk the carpet was Bill Clinton. Why? Bill Clinton doesn't HAVE to walk the carpet. R-Pat better not get too big for his pretty-boy britches, because one day soon, we could all be saying "Rob Who?" -- Fame is fleeting, my boy...

Lowlights? Speaking of not walking the carpet, at his own premiere party for the Tarantino movie "Inglourious Basterds" (yes, that's how it's spelled, intentionally) Brad and Angie decided at the last minute, THEY weren't walking the red carpet, and doing interviews, not even having their mugs photographed. WTF? That's why most of the American press, at least, were there, since Brad was one of the biggest stars at the festival this year. Disappointing is an understatement, but again, while Brad is in another league than Pattinson, you gotta wonder why he wouldn't want to promote a movie that, in my opinion, is going to need some promotion.

One of my personal favorite moments, was at a 'photo call' -- which means thousands (literally) of international press lined up along the Boulevard de la Croisette (the main drag) outside the Carlton Hotel (which Disney had covered in snow to stunt-promote their new Robert Zemeckis film "A Christmas Carol") Jim Carrey with Jenny McCarthy pull up in front via horse and buggy -- flashes, screams, yells, etc... and Jim eyeballs me in the huge crowd, and says "Jerry Penacoli, nice to see you.. nice to see a familiar face" Aw, Jim, you had me at "In Living Color" ... A select group of press were then treated to a 'sneak peek' of the 3-D movie... astounding!

The Santa Barbara Fires

I was called Friday night by my show, because the 'celeb-community' of Montecito was now threatened by the heinous Santa Barbara fire, that had already taken out (at this point) more than 70 homes -- it grew to more than 80. Anyway, Oprah's home, Rob Lowe's Kathy Ireland's homes were in serious danger, and they were either close to or at the point of evacuation.

The last thing I wanted to do was run up to Santa Barbara for work... I thought I had left my days of chasing fire trucks and police cars when I stopped doing local news years and years ago, but celebrities were now involved, or potentially involved, and so, being one of the frontmen of an entertainment news show, I had to go.

I'm so glad I did. Not just because of the celebrity angle. Just seeing, and being THAT close to destruction, makes one so thankful and grateful... by the grace of God go all of us... While visiting an evacuation center, and seeing people's lives reduced to one cot, with a child's teddy bear, and coloring book as their most prized possessions, makes one see things more clearly.

I had the opportunity to interview Rob Lowe and Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger, who teamed up, because Rob lives in Montecito with his wife and family, and the Gov of course was there since he had declared Santa Barbara Co. a disaster zone. They didn't just posture and spew forth the 'we're famous and we're here to make a statement' mentality. Rob was THIS close to the fire, at one point, being able to clearly see it moving closer and closer to his home. Both Rob and the Governor actually comforted the evacuees who were holed up on the UCSB campus gym. Rows and rows of cots of people just waiting to be told they could go home... not sure what they would find, however, when they did so.

We were there when they were given the 'all clear' -- the expressions of joy, the gasps of excitement from those who had been there for days, were memorable, to say the least.

Talking our way (my crew and producer and myself) into the burned out zone was a feat unto itself. But we did so, because we felt the need to show the destruction, the burned out homes, and it left me feeling sad, and confused as to how the fire could burn one home, then skip four others and burn another... The most vivid image seared into my brain, is that of a statue of the Virgin Mary, charred, yet still standing in what was the front yard of a burned out home.

I am left depleted, and still very inspired by the human spirit that seems to thrive during a natural disaster such as this.

New Movie Preview: "Middlemen"

What a treat to be part of the very first audience to see a brand-new movie debuting in Cannes called "Middlemen" -- starring Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, Jacinda Barrett, James Caan, to name a few of the ensemble, directed by George Gallo, produced by Chris Mallick.

Think: "Goodfellas" meets "Oceans 11" only quicker, sharper and with performances that any actor should be proud of. Giovanni Ribisi, in particular is a standout, playing a strung out loser who essentially is responsible for "pay as you play" internet porn.

Based on a true story, "Middlemen" is non-stop fun, while probing deep into the minds and souls, really, of a group of individuals thrust together all in the name of greed.

Not to be missed.