Tom Hanks Calls Prop. 8's Mormon Supporters 'Un-American'

Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories):
1. Tom Hanks Calls Prop. 8’s Mormon Supporters ‘Un-American’
2. Oliver Stone Hails Hugo Chavez
3. Extreme White House Makeover
4. John McCain Stomps on Cindy’s Dancing Shoes
5. Hollywood’s Obama Obsession
 

1. Tom Hanks Calls Prop. 8’s Mormon Supporters ‘Un-American’

While at HBO's recent "Big Love" premiere party, Tom Hanks illustrated why he needs writers to script his words for him.

“The truth is this [‘Big Love’] takes place in Utah,” Hanks said. “The truth is, these people are some bizarre offshoot of the Mormon Church, and the truth is, a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop. 8 happen.”

“There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American and I am one of them,” he declared.

Hanks is executive producer of the polygamist television series.

Remember not that long ago when some of Hanks buddies in Hollywood were scolding people for even thinking about questioning their patriotism?

But according to Hanks it’s a-OK to refer to an entire religious denomination as un-American for lending financial support to a political cause they believe in.

Looks like Hanks may be readying himself for a sequel to “Forrest Gump.”

2. Oliver Stone Hails Hugo Chavez

Oliver Stone is quite a fancier of despots.

In the past, the filmmaker has attempted to use his talents and resources to put a softer light on Fidel Castro’s disregard for human rights.

Now Stone is making a documentary on another dictator, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

After two weeks of filming Chavez, Stone sang his praises to The Associated Press.

“There is something going on here, and it's outside the IMF, it's outside American control — that's what interests me,” he said.

Stone conducted interviews with Chavez's left-leaning allies in Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador and Bolivia; countries that are, according to Stone, participating in the region's “liberation from the United States.”

The documentary, which will be released in a few months, has not yet been given a title.

“This is what I like about Chavez,” Stone explained.

“He's a big man; he thinks big,” Stone said, claiming that Chavez is a “world-changer.”

He also had a recommendation for newly inaugurated President Barack Obama, saying that he “should meet with Chavez.”

In Hugo’s Venezuelan jail cell perhaps?

3. Extreme White House Makeover

Guess when times are tough you have to grab for stimulus wherever you can.

The Obamas are stimulating the beleaguered Southern California economy by hiring an interior decorator to the stars who has worked for Michelle Pfeiffer, Dustin Hoffman, Cindy Crawford, and Steven Spielberg, among others.

With so much design talent in Washington, D.C. and Chicago, the California designer was an unexpected choice.

The Obamas chose Michael Smith, who took classes in interior design at L.A.’s Otis College of Art and Design and continued his studies in London. He returned to California to open a home furnishings store and his own design firm.

Smith lives in the upscale community of Bel Air and has his office in Santa Monica.

Michelle Obama's press office referred to Smith as having a “family-focused and affordable approach.”

”Michael shares my vision for creating a family friendly feel to our new home and incorporating some new perspectives from some of America's greatest artists and designers,” the first lady said.

By the way, Smith also plans to bring change.

4. John McCain Stomps on Cindy’s Dancing Shoes

Actors, singers, and sports figures have been featured on the hit television show, “Dancing with the Stars.”

So why not bring on the wife of a man who ran for president?

It turns out that Cindy McCain had been in talks with the producers of the show for months, according to the New York Post’s source.

The source indicated that the talks began “just before Thanksgiving” and claimed that “she [Cindy] wanted to do it very badly.”

Cindy’s hubby apparently had other ideas.

The source said that John McCain “put the kibosh on” Cindy’s becoming a dancing queen.

Wonder if the show had any phone calls out to Wasilla.

5. Hollywood’s Obama Obsession

It’s a love affair like no other.

Celebrities are absolutely head-over-heels for Barack Obama, and their passion seems to grow stronger each day.

Hollywood has been in love with a president or two before. There was JFK, a soul mate who, when tragically lost, left the stars with broken hearts and feelings that no one would ever take his place. And there was Bill Clinton, the bad boy who made them break out in goose bumps and gush endlessly.

Tinseltown’s past reactions now look more like childhood crushes when we compare them to the torrid romance that is presently taking place.

Celebrities who jumped at the chance to walk the red carpet that stretches from Hollywood to D.C. include the following: Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Bono, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Samuel L. Jackson, Jack Black, Marisa Tomei, Rosario Dawson, George Lopez, Steve Carell, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Faith Hill, Ashley Judd, Sting, Jessica Alba, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Kate Walsh, John Cusack, Steven Spielberg, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Lisa Marie Presley, Ron Howard, Spike Lee, Dana Delany, Ellen Burstyn, and too many others to mention.

With the statue of Abraham Lincoln in the background, a two-hour concert was held in D.C., “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial,” which featured marquee names like Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Jon Bon Jovi, Shakira, U2 and Garth Brooks.

In between performances, Queen Latifah, Jamie Foxx, Denzel Washington, and Martin Luther King III read historical passages.

Why the obsession with the new president?

Well, for one thing the Hollywood crowd is overjoyed to see President Bush leave office. What sweetens things further is the perception that they’ve been part of a huge win after suffering a series of embarrassing losses.

But an even bigger reason why Hollywood has gone gaga over Obama is that celebrities see a fellow star in him, one whom they long to be and over whom they themselves are completely starstruck.

Living the Hollywood lifestyle promotes a certain degree of narcissism. The excessive interest that celebrities must take in themselves and their physical appearances as part of their jobs may cause a distortion of reality and feelings that life has taken on a surreal quality.

Because media have defined the persona of many of the famous, celebrities often lose touch with their genuine inner selves and find that they are striving to live up to the way in which they are perceived. Stars may even frequently feel like imposters.

Obama is an individual who is poised to become the most powerful figure in the world. He has star power beyond imagination. In fact, he is the most famous person alive, No. 1 on the global A-list.

In Hollywood’s eyes, he represents the ultimate — rich, telegenic, living out his dreams, adorning magazine covers, his every move photographed, millions of fans, power beyond measure.

His image has been honed and fine-tuned, a fitting leader for the Hollywood Nation.