Beck/Smith Hollywood

Funny lady Renee Taylor reports she has a new daughter on “Happily Divorced,” one who is as flamboyant as Renee herself – pop star Cyndi Lauper.  “She was adorable, really funny and very emotionally responsive to work with,” notes the septuagenarian show business veteran.  Cyndi’s episode will be coming up next month on the show in which Renee has a recurring role as a family friend.  Long known as mama of “The Nanny” on Fran Drescher’s former series, Taylor is having a blast working with Drescher again on the popular “Divorced” series that launches its third season on TV Land tonight (11/28).

“People ask me what’s the difference between this character and my character on ‘The Nanny,’” notes Renee, “and I say this one is younger, more glamorous and smarter.”

Robert Wagner and Joan Collins are also among the guest stars who’ll soon be showing up on the series.

It’s a hectic time for Renee, who also has her recurring role on “How I Met Your Mother,” a new stage show on the way for next year entitled My Life on a Diet — plus her burgeoning Renee Taylor’s Face Love business.

My Life on a Diet is “semi autobiographical,” she says.  She plans to do the show in New York, and “then hopefully, TV.”

As far as Renee Taylor’s Face Love, she tells us it took awhile to develop the product with her friend, Florida-based makeup artist Cindy Cohen.  “I asked her if she had a skin tightener and she said yes, and I tried it and said, ‘It’s good, but it’s not enough.  And it’s a little irritating,’ so she went back to work on it and for five years she’s been perfecting this serum with me criticizing.  Today, you can use it instead of botox,” proclaims Renee, whose brand can be found at reneetaylorsfacelove.com   She’s no fan of excessive nipping and tucking.  “When you go into a room and everyone looks the same it’s scary — and it happens, especially here in Hollywood.  I don’t want to do too much to myself or when I get to heaven, God will say, ‘Who are you?’”

Taylor always seems to be working.  Earlier this year, she was in Tyler Perry’s “The Marriage Counselor” in a role Perry originally wrote for a man.  He ended up liking Renee’s spirit, and obviously, the affection was mutual.  “He is so fun and so sexy,” she says of Perry.  “He just laughed at everything I said, which I loved.  That was also the reason I fell in love with my husband — that he laughed at everything I said,” she adds of her favorite leading man, onstage and off, Joe Bologna.  The couple is looking forward to celebrating their golden anniversary.

The secret to their longevity?  Not surprisingly, it’s laughter.

“We have an agreement,” she says.  “If he leaves me, it has to be for a much older woman with more depth and maturity.”

http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/fashion-and-entertainment/hollywood-exclusive/renee-taylor-has-a-new-daughter-a-new-show-a-new-product-and-a-hubby-who-s-a-classic.html

Al Roker will be all over NBC’s holiday programming again this year – starting with today’s 86th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  It’s a job the “Today Show” weather man took on with relish.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all and a big thank you to readers of this column who submitted candidates for Beck/Smith Hollywood’s 35th Annual Tacky Taste Awards! Yes, we received votes for both President Barack Obama and former governor Mitt Romney this election year — but our tackiest Top Ten drew more. There are so many celebrity turkeys this year, we’d better get started before indigestion sets in:

 1. Clint Eastwood. “Clint Eastwood’s endless, embarrassing ad libbed monologue to a chair at the Republican convention should get your tacky prize,” wrote M.C. of San Juan Capistrano, CA. “It was like seeing somebody’s drunken uncle ruin a party,” added LesB1. Or, as Heidi D. of New York put it, “I don’t think ‘Dirty Harry’ made anybody’s day this time.”

2. Joan Rivers. Contributor Grace H. of Burbank, CA proclaimed: “It’s fall and Tackies are crawling out of the woodwork. The silly season is in full swing. Joan Rivers got an early start by making a scene in a Burbank Costco parking lot because Costco refused to carry her nasty book ‘I Hate Everyone Including Me’ which was replete with the F word.”

3. “The Tacky Taste Award should go to: the Petraeus/Broadwell/Kelley/Allen mess or, briefly, ‘Generals Gone Wild’” wrote Robert A. He was part of a late surge in voting that took off earlier this month after David Petraeus stepped down as head of the CIA and admitted his affair with biographer Paula Broadwell — which has led to more revelations involving Florida socialite Jill Kelley and General John Allen. Joked reader Danette S. of New Orleans, “David Petraeus and John Allen: top generals taking orders from their

privates! Soooooo tacky.”

4. Lance Armstrong. Julia C. of Arizona summarized the feelings of many when it comes to the doping-tainted cyclist, who was stripped of his Tour de France titles. “The guy lied and carried on the facade of innocence for years. He was able to control his own team for many of those years to carry on his innocence. He truly is the master of lying publicly and getting us to believe in him — even idolize him. He got sponsors to pay millions to represent their products. Even when the story began crumbling, he had his lies rehearsed so well that he still seemed believable and almost made you feel sorry for him. The guy went to the Arnold Schwarzenegger School of Integrity and needs to hire Tiger’s PR guy.”

5.  Donald Trump.  From John W. of St. Louis:  “The Evil egomaniac with the epoxied comb-over.  Who could be more deserving of a tacky award than Donad Trump.  Ranting that the election was a ‘sham and a travesty’ because he doesn’t like President Obama is typical behavior.”

6. Mary Kate Olson and her 16-years-older love, Olivier Sarkozy, the French banker who is also half brother of the former French president, Nicolas. Declared Grace.tra, “The pictures are revolting. She’s like a smoking Muppet on an outing with him and his (same height) daughter.” Echoed Arlene L. of Cedar Rapids, IA: “Tres tacky.”

7. Lindsay Lohan. “Substance abusing, jewelry grabbing, vehicularly impaired lowlife Lindsay Lohan playing immortal Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor? What are they thinking? Lifetime gets my vote for their tacky casting choice.” — Shawn2002 in San Francisco.

8. Kristen Stewart. Roxieund1 was among those critical of the “Twilight” leading lady: “It isn’t that she cheated on Robert Pattinson that makes her so tacky. It’s her acting, which consists of one expression: constipated.”

9. The Media. Among complaints about biased news people and maniacal gossip hounds this election year were comments regarding the media circus surrounding Whitney Houston’s death. “It was the height of ghoulishness, when even CNN was advertising a ‘stake-out camera’ at the funeral home,” griped Atlanta-based Jbstcher.

10. Ann Coulter. Pam E. of New Haven, CT, was among those who feel, “Ann Coulter is tackiest this year and every year. She will say anything to get attention. Attacking the late Princess Diana (‘just this anorexic bulimic narcissist’) and using the word ‘retard’ for the President and then refusing to apologize for the slur are two examples of her ugly modus operandi.”

And that’s it for this year! Here’s hoping all your turkeys have the best of taste.

Larry Klein and Christina Aguilera

The 40^th Annual American Music Awards will mark the passing of its creator and godfather, Dick Clark, with a tribute to the TV Academy and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer who died this past April.  However, “It’s not going to be a long, drawn-out thing,” promises producer Larry Klein. “It will be short and sweet.  That’s the way Dick would have wanted it.”

Klein would be the man to know.  He’s been working on the show since he got work as a production assistant on the very first AMAs. Even after Clark sold his company a decade ago, along with the American Music Awards show, Klein says no year would pass without his getting together with best buddy Dick and chatting about the event. 

This year’s show will feature performances by some 17 chart-toppers, including Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Ke$ha, Usher, No Doubt, Nicki Minaj, Pink, Carrie Underwood, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera and Linkin Park.  Bieber is up for three awards this year including Artist of the Year.  Bieber’s mentor, Usher, is also in the running with three nominations and the two will face off against each other in the category for Favorite Male Artist: Pop/Rock.  Rihanna  and Minaj lead the nominees with four nods apiece. Drake, Maroon 5 and One Direction have three nominations each.

Things have changed a lot, notes Klein, from the days when the likes of Helen Reddy and John Denver would “would come in and ask, ‘What should I sing?’  What does Dick want me to do?’  Now, I walk in and say, ‘I’m the producer.  Just tell me what you want,’” says Klein with a laugh. 

The special anniversary edition of the AMAs will bring us some highlights of their storied history, such as Prince’s Purple Reign prancing, Michael Jackson’s thrilling moves, and Axl Rose’s unprintable acceptance speech.  Not surprisingly, some of the moments Klein finds most memorable took place off camera.  There have been gargantuan backstage clashes, talent that had to be kept in dressing rooms that were far apart and all that sort of thing, he cheerfully acknowledges, refusing to name names.  And there’ve been heart-stopping near-misses and eleventh-hour changes.  Klein recalls that “a few years ago, the person who opened the show, at the five second mark was not on her mark – through no fault of her own.  She was supposed to be in a container, but there had been problems with it, and when the countdown started, I realized she was behind me.” 

That performer was Mariah Carey, and she did manage to whisk into the egg-shaped, spinning container at the very last second, and start the awards.  “Thank God she had the stage presence to keep her cool.  She could have freaked out,” Klein says. 

  Even though they’ll be glancing back, however, the 40^th awards will be focused on today.  Klein says that every one of the 17 acts that will be performing will have its own environment.  “That’s one of the things that sets us apart.  Because of me wanting every artist to have their own atmosphere, their own look – nothing repeated — we have carts containing set pieces stretching out for six to eight blocks in downtown L.A. on show day.”  This year, he says, viewers will get to see some of the backstage action.

The hardest part must be squeezing in everything they want to do.  How does Klein manage?  “We just do it, “ he says.

With the election over and done with – at last! – it’s time to put aside political animosities and get back to business.  Right?  Well, not so much for many in Hollywood, where bitterness continues despite the fact that the vast majority of Tinsel Town inhabitants were celebrating four more years of the Obama administration as the returns came in.

Will film and TV honchos of a liberal bent hold their support of Mitt Romney against the likes of Meat Loaf, Kid Rock, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson, Adam Sandler, James Caan, Stephen Baldwin, Stacey Dash and Scott Baio?  Has creative titan Clint Eastwood’s star lost some of its luster in these parts (and everywhere else) due to his weird performance opposite an empty chair at the Republican convention?

It hasn’t been easy to be Republican red in this bastion of Democrat blue.  In the 2004 AMC documentary, “Rated ‘R’: Republicans n Hollywood,” Patricia Heaton tells of having dinner and conversation with a few Hollywood friends when the subject of politics came up. When the “The Middle” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” star said she was voting for George W. Bush, the chatter turned to awkward silence.

“You’d think I’d crapped in the middle of the table,” the Emmy-winning actress recalled.

Jesse Moss, the filmmaker behind “Rated R,” had trouble getting stars to appear on camera. A disclaimer in his film stated that Mel Gibson, Chuck Norris, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Bruce Willis and Heather Locklear — all known Republicans — refused to be interviewed.

Recently Fox News aired a story claiming that times had changed and that election 2012 saw many more stars opening up about their conservative leanings – but really, we’re pretty much seeing the same cast we’ve been seeing in the Republican ranks for a decade, such as Jon Voight, Kelsey Grammer and filmmaker Jerry Bruckheimer.

While differences may be vast, there are plenty of major names working with fellow actors who might be considered from the enemy camp, politically speaking, and doing just fine.  Obama supporter Sanaa Lathan and Romney man Kelsey Grammer act brilliantly together in Starz’ dark drama, “Boss.”  Taraji Henson, who also campaigned for Obama’s re-election, is in “Person of Interest” with religious conservative Jim Caviezel.  And of course, President Obama’s friend and former Harvard classmate, Hill Harper, is on the “CSI:NY” set all the time with “one of the finest actors I’ve ever met” Gary Sinise.  Sinise is among the unofficial leaders of the industry’s conservatives,  though he often keeps his views off the record in deference to his vast, nonpartisan charity work.

The high bar for Hollywood types of different political stripes getting along had to have been set by the five-decade friendship between Golden Era movie stars Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda.  Stewart was a staunch Republican and Fonda a devout Democrat.  The story goes that they got into a fistfight over politics once in the 1930s and decided never to have another heated political argument.  They even did a send-up of their political differences in their “Cheyenne Social Club” Western.

There was, however, nothing funny about the monumental pressures that the Stewart and Fonda friendship withstood – first during the Hollywood blacklisting period, and later during the Vietnam War.  Fonda’s daughter, Jane, was the most controversial of anti-war activists.  Stewart’s son and his nephew were military men who were killed in Vietnam.  Stewart, a decorated WWII bomber pilot and brigadier general in the Air Force Reserve, made it clear that as far as he was concerned, his son “was called upon by his country…When he got on the field of battle, he conducted himself in a gallant manner, and to me that’s not a tragedy.”  Fonda (who himself had been a decorated WWII Navy man), agreed with Jane about Vietnam, and once publicly admonished her critics to “shut up” because “she’s perfect.”  

Get out your jingle bells.  David Hasselhoff is coming toward us Saturday (11/10) as a very merry guy who helps clients get through the holidays in style in “The Christmas Consultant,” a Lifetime movie he says he glommed onto because it’s family-oriented, and so is he.

Hasselhoff also tells us he is in negotiations for a show that would bring him back into the reality TV realm, this time on the Travel Channel, and that he plans to tour the U.S. with his one-man “An Evening With David Hasselhoff” stage show next year.  That show’s already been a success in Europe and the U.K, where the former “Baywatch” and “Knight Rider” star continues to have an avid following.

Will his “Evening With” show fare as well back home?  Followers of the Hasselhoff saga are well aware his life has been fraught with trauma, from past battles with booze to public derision.  However, he says, “I always feel that I’m staying mobile and staying positive.  It’s like William Shatner, you know?  You can’t keep guys like us down.  No matter what is said about us, or who’s made fun of us, we’re able to laugh at ourselves and move forward.  Life is about waking up and smelling the coffee,” he continues.

“I look at my dad and he’s 87 and he’s still a positive, incredible man.  That’s why I took this movie. I’d rather have a perfect kids’ movie, like ‘Home Alone,’ than play Santa’s rough-around-the-edges helper” — another role he says the network dangled before him.

So, does Hasselhoff feel a kinship with Shatner?

“I’ve seen his show before, in concert,” the Hoff replies.  “I’ve spoken to him several times.  We’re actually managed by the same guy so we have a lot in common.  I

really like his work ethic.”

Hasselhoff can identify with working hard on multiple fronts.  His home is “always rockin’ with a lot of different projects,” he says.

He already has investors lined up for his “Evening With” tour, he informs.  He’s looking forward to communing with audiences across the U.S.A., including the young crowd that knows him from “The Spongebob Squarepants Movie” or his short-lived “Hoff.”

“People are so kind to me and they seem to get it.  They know I am resilient.  To have a long and happy life, you have to be resilient,” he notes.

Meanwhile, there’s “The Christmas Consultant.”

Hasselhoff says that as soon as he read the script, he told his agent “100 per cent book it.” He explains, “I’ve been a fan of Christmas movies my whole life.  As a matter of

Fact, one important piece of information that I’ve never shared with anybody is I’ve been living on the same block where they filmed ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’  The backlot, where they built the town — Bedford Falls — is exactly four blocks from my house.  That was pointed out to me by one of my associates, my musical director, who is a real movie buff.  We’re in Encino, where they built Bedford Falls.  That is so amazing to me, because that is a movie that has so touched my heart.  Being in a Christmas movie that is family-oriented and very emotional and very fun is a great honor.  It’s cool, it’s really cool.”

SPEAKING OF FAMILY FARE:  Kristin Chenoweth makes a much — much — better host for the American Humane Association’s Hero Dog Awards than

Carson Kressley, who emceed the canine kudofest last year.  Cute as Carson can be, his campy humor was a weird mix with the often heart-tugging, sometimes heart-wrenching

honors — kind of like putting a hot pink frame on a George Earl painting.

Talk about heroics!  Among the eight honoree dogs, for example, is Jynx, a German Shepherd who sniffed out a gunman who was lying in wait to ambush a group of sheriffs on his trail, then attacked the gunman, then tried to pull his mortally-wounded handler to safety.  The widow accepted on behalf of Jynx, who now lives with her and her baby daughter.

Joey Lawrence, Pauley Perette, Kellie Martin, Denise Richards, Naomi Judd, Mark Steines and Jake T. Austin were among the celebrity attendees at the Beverly

Hilton event, airing tonight (11/8) on The Hallmark Channel.  Jewel was in great voice performing for the crowd.  And Carson — well, he was a good enough sport to do a little

comedy bit on tape.

End it

“The Mentalist’s” 100th episode has aired and the team that makes the popular Simon Baker drama has made it clear that this season, they’re going to get closer to solving the central mystery of Red John — the serial killer that took the lives of Baker’s character’s wife and child.  Does all that indicate that Baker and series creator Bruno Heller are envisioning an ending for the series?

Not according to leading lady Robin Tunney.

“I think it’s a creative conversation,” she says, speaking of the show in general and the Red John storyline in particular.  “I feel like they’ll go along as long as the audience wants to, as long as they keep it interesting and not too frustrating.  Historically, with television, people will get on the bandwagon with something and then it’s very clearwhen they’ve given up,” she continues.  “Everybody wanted to know who killed Laura Palmer in ‘Twin Peaks’ — but it went to a certain point and then everyone turned on (creator) David Lynch.  I think there’s a certain point where you resolve something when the audience needs it.”

According to Tunney, Heller and the other writer-producers “read everything that’s written about the show, I think. Bruno actually reads letters that people send in.  I think they are genuinely curious.  Both Bruno and Simon are really into what the fans think, and sort of servicing them.”

The fans’ devotion has helped “The Mentalist” remain a strong show despite the fact, “the move to Sunday nights has been rough, because we get pre-empted by football,” Tunney acknowledges.  “People can’t watch when the show starts at 11 o’clock — and they can’t even properly TiVo it, because they don’t know when it’s going to start.

The Chicago-born actress, who rose to fame as the suicidal teen who shaved her head in “Empire Records,” and as a girl with occult powers in “The Craft” — and counts the series “Prison Break” among her credits — says she is happy to continue playing Agent Teresa Lisbon of the fictional California Bureau of Investigation.

In fact, she says, “I love playing this character, and I think as far as female roles on tv, it’s one of the great ones.  I feel like she’s incredibly three-dimensional.  She’s strong, she’s powerful.  I think she’s effective, but at the same time I think she’s human.  I don’t get bored.  I think that’s largely due to Simon because I do most of my scenes with him and I enjoy acting with him.

“At the same time, this has created a perfect atmosphere for me.  It’s not soapy, where I have to jump into bed with men or wear negligees, or cry, or play something ridiculous, like I’m the twin,” she adds with good-natured distaste.  “Or comedy like you watch sometimes and think, ‘Oh my God, this is not working’.  I’ll watch a show  that’s meant to be humorous and think there’s something wrong with me because the laugh track is laughing, but I don’t think it’s funny.”

Tunney, who is divorced, has a family of sorts among her “Mentalist” cast and crew mates, particularly Baker.  They are close enough, as she disclosed in a CBS video, that their relationship even survived her throwing up on him one day when she was working despite a stomach virus.

“He has three children so he’s had his kids throw up on him,” she cheerily observes, when the incident is mentioned.  “I think if you’re going to throw up on somebody, you should try to throw up on somebody who has children.  It doesn’t freak them out quite as much.”

As far as the show’s marking of 100 episodes and what it means to her, Tunney says,   “I was just reading about the 300th episode of ‘SVU.’  That just dwarfs this achievement.  Television actors are sort of like athletes.  You don’t admire it as much until you do it yourself.  You spend your life going, ‘Oh my God, Meryl Streep is so amazing.’  And she is amazing.  But Mariska Hargitay is like Muhammad Ali.“

She feels that Simon is a champ as well.  “He has an abnormally strong work ethic.  The fact that our show has stood up so well is really a testament to him and Bruno.  They both work astonishingly hard and, you know, it all comes from the top.”