Talk Shows: April 2008 Archives

When I spoke with Martina Navratilova a few weeks ago, she was leaving for Chicago the next day to tape an episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on extraordinary friendships. Appearing with her on the show would be Chris Evert, the greatest rival of her pro tennis career. The show airs today (3 p.m. in LA, check your local listings for elsewhere).

The Navratilova-Evert relationship is fascinating on many levels. In terms of pure sports, few rivals have competed so many times (80 matches between 1973 and 1988) and nearly finished dead-even (Martina edged Chris 43-37 head-to-head). Each won 18 grand slam titles and between them, held the number one ranking from 1975 through 1987 with only Tracy Austin breaking their stranglehold for a brief time in 1980.

I watched so many of their classic matches with the best being Chris' wins over Martina in the 1985 and 1986 French Opens and Martina's victories over Chris in the 1988 Wimbledon semifinal (see video below), 1984 US Open final and 1981 US Open seimifinal. Both were at their best in these riveting three-set thrillers.

And here's a few points from their 1975 French Open final won by Evert:

But enough of the tennis part.

As these two tried to beat each other's brains out on the court, off the court they were almost always pretty tight except for a brief period in the early 80s. They were pals in the mid-70s when Martina defected to the US and win the French and Wimbledon doubles together and when their rivalry was at its peak, they spoke with respect for each other and always consoled each other after a match no matter which one won.

Martina was couragous enough to come out publicly as a lesbian almost 30 years ago when it was a far more difficult thing to do - especially on the world stage. She deserves everlasting credit and respect for blazing that trail and for continuing to be a leader and outspoken activist.

Chris, during her playing career, was perceived as America's sweetheart which such nicknames as "Cinderella in Sneakers" and "Chris America." She was also the world's top-ranked player when Martina came out and when Billie Jean King was outed by a vindictive ex-lover who filed a palimony suit. Chris very publicly supported both women at that time and remained so.

Billie Jean told me a few years ago that it is exactly that kind of support from top stars that is needed in men's sports if male athletes are to ever feel comfortable coming out during their playing careers.

This is from last Friday's "Kelly and Regis" which Anderson co-hosted. I've got plenty of posts coming up this afternoon - after lunch!

"Tonight Show" host Jay Leno spoke with KMXB radio in Las Vegas about the "gayest look" controversy involving Ryan Phillippe. Lucky for us, Andy Towle transcribed it and has an audio link on his Towleroad blog.

Here is a little excerpt: "You know, it's really odd how on our show we have plenty of gay guests and plenty of gay guests who you know - 'how's your relationship going, how's your family going' -- Melissa Etheridge, with everybody else. To me I never made fun of gay rights or even gay marriage. Do what you want to do. But to me -- fashion, lifestyle, hair, you know that kind of stuff -- you're a comic. Thats what you do. And what it was was Ryan Phillippe..."

I thoroughly enjoyed the interview with Mario Cantone that was posted on AfterElton.com this week. I just love people who don't give boring and safe answers and allow themselves to come through in an interview.

At one point, Michael Jensen asks Mario about the buzz last year that he was being considered to become the first male panelist on "The View" after he guest hosted a number of times. It didn't happen and he seems relieved that it didn't but admitted that it would have been a tough gig to turn down. Then Michael asked Mario about the show's token conservative voice, Elisabeth Hasselbeck who famously clashed with former colleague Rosie O'Donnell.

AE: I don't know how freely you'll want to speak on this, but what's your opinion of Elizabeth Hasselbeck?
MC: I get along with Elizabeth very well. I get along with all of those girls really well. I think she's coming along a little bit, too. I can disagree with her a lot politically, believe me, but so did Rosie, and they were very, very close at one time. So there's something about Elizabeth as a person that's really - she's a good girl. I want to smack her, too, when I watch the show sometimes - and she knows that - but it has nothing to do with who she is as a person and what's really in her heart.

AE: I don't find it hard to believe that she's a nice person, I just don't think she's the deepest thinker in the world.
MC: No, she's not. But I think she's a smart girl and I think her intelligence will ultimately override her idealism. I think she's going to continually grow. Especially being around those women every day, you can't help but look at the other side of things. You know, with Whoopi there, with Joy there, I just think that ultimately she's gonna come over to the dark side [laughing].

Hey, did Anderson Cooper even bring this photo shoot up on "60 Minutes" a few weeks back? Hmmm. Well, Jay Leno - still recovering from the Ryan Phillippe fiasco - had David Beckham on "The Tonight Show" Tuesday and asked him, of course, about those heaven on Earth pics for the Armani underwear ads.

Beckham said: "I was so nervous about doing that campaign because obviously I've done photoshoots before but I've never done photoshoots in my underwear. But to do that, I was quite nervous because obviously I knew my wife and friends were going to see it. And my mom was going to see it. When the photos first came out, she was the first one to call me and say, 'What are you doing?' I tried explaining it to her but she didn't really get it."

Here's a clip:

Jay Leno has apologized for last week's bizarre bit with Ryan Phillippe on "The Tonight Show" when Ryan was on to promote his new movie "Stop-Loss."

Jay brought up Ryan's early role as a gay teen on the ABC soap "One Life to Live" then inexplicably said to Ryan: "Can you give me, like - say that camera is your gay lover ...Can you give me your gayest look'? Say that camera is Billy Bob - Billy Bob has just ridden in shirtless from Wyoming."

Ryan looked instantly uncomfortable and said: "Wow. That is so something I don't want to do. Are you just going to embarrass me tonight, or ... ?"

"No," said Jay. "I got more stuff. This is the least of it."

Earlier today, GLAAD slammed Leno with this statement: "We are proud of Ryan for refusing to participate in Leno's thoughtless attempt at humor," said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. "Under the guise of comedy, the talk-show host is demonstrating a lack of respect for the gay community and insensitivity to both his co-workers and the audience, to whom he owes an apology."

Then came this apology from Jay: "In talking about Ryan's first role, I realize that what I said came out wrong. I certainly didn't mean any malice. I agree it was a dumb thing to say, and I apologize."