the news biz
New York Post [Page Six] - August 14, 2006
ANISTON TALE IMPERILS ‘TODAY’
THERE’S going to be a shortage of A-list celebrities on the “Today”
show if Jennifer Aniston’s high-powered flack gets his way.
Word is that Stephen Huvane is furious because the NBC morning
chatfest trumpeted Us Weekly’s “scoop” about Aniston and Vince
Vaughn’s supposed engagement, and then had Ann Curry breathlessly
pump editrix Janice Min for details. So Huvane is said to be yanking
his roster of top stars from future “Today” appearances.
Sources say Huvane called “Today” executives and read them the riot
act for not having checked with him before reporting that Vaughn
proposed to Aniston on a private plane after a romantic weekend in
Mexico. Huvane has branded the story a complete fabrication. He’s
said to have told the “Today” suits he’s pulling his hottest clients
- including Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore and Kirsten Dunst -
from the show indefinitely.
It’s also expected Huvane will hand his clients over to dreaded ABC
competitor “Good Morning America.” His entire firm, powerful PMKHBH,
may follow suit, which would mean a serious scarcity of stars on
“Today.”
“The timing couldn’t be worse,” an insider says. “September is when
the ratings war traditionally heats up, and Huvane’s clients have
some big movies coming out.”
“GMA” producers are said to be giggling with glee. One staffer even
called Huvane to make sure he saw the Curry-Min chitchat.
“Today” spokeswoman Lauren Kapp says she wasn’t aware of any plans to
withhold talent, but, “There’s no way. [Huvane] cannot afford to put
his clients on a competitor that gets considerably less viewers.”
“GMA” rep Bridgette Maney bristles: “We’ve launched more than half of
this year’s top-10 albums and movies, and ‘GMA’ continues to be the
place where the biggest celebrities visit.”
Meanwhile, Min stands by her cover story, which screams, “Vince
Proposes! A nervous Vaughn surprises Jen with a ring bigger than
Brad’s.” She’s tweaking Huvane by publishing a list of celeb stories
he’s lied about to reporters in the past. Huvane did not respond to
our e-mails.