Digest

Sideshow

By TIMES WIRES
Published January 10, 2007

Piven, Cusack split

Jeremy Piven and John Cusack have been buddies for years. Piven, who has found success as agent Ari Gold on Entourage, played second fiddle to Cusack for years in tons of movies. And Cusack even studied at Chicago's Piven Theatre Workshop, which was run by Jeremy's parents. But these days, Cusack is less than impressed, Piven implies in an interview with Best Life magazine. Asked how Cusack has handled Piven's good fortune, which includes an Emmy win last year, Piven says, "You could fill in the blank, I bet," adding, "It just says so much about a person if he has space for other people's success. ... You start getting into trouble in life when you start comparing and contrasting your life to anyone else's."

3 times the fun

The Rosie O'Donnell vs. Donald Trump vs. Barbara Walters mudwrestling match is another example of how life really never stops being like junior high. The latest round is between Rosie and Babs, the New York Post says, over Babs' alleged remarks to The Donald - as alleged by The Donald - that she never wanted to hire Rosie for her The View chatfest. The Post says O'Donnell accused Walters in a View dressing room fight of talking to everyone else but her about what she did or didn't say. And she's mad that Babs has never called Donald a liar - apparently, that word needed to be included in Babs' comment that she never told Donald she didn't want Rosie. The show's producers say it was a typical View dustup and the pair have moved on. Meanwhile, Trump has been credited with sending a letter to Rosie on Tuesday that Entertainment Tonight posted on its Web Site. The note says O'Donnell is right to be angry with Walters, since Babs apparently has lied to both of them.

Unrest, unburied

The body of soul singer James Brown has yet to be buried as attorneys and his children work to settle issues surrounding his estate, including where he will be laid to rest. Brown died Dec. 25 at age 73. His will has yet to be filed, said Buddy Dallas, an attorney for the singer. Brown's home has been locked since hours after his death to protect his memorabilia, furnishing, clothes and other items, Dallas said. Among those locked out: Tomi Rae Hynie, Brown's partner, who says she shared the home with the singer and their 5-year-old son. Her lawyer said Hynie should be granted access. Meanwhile, Brown's former publicist, Jacque Hollander, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear her suit against Brown, in which she accuses him of raping her nearly 20 years ago. A lower court ruled she had waited too long to file.

[Last modified January 10, 2007, 01:08:29]