Caught on tape: ‘Justice’ served on Helmsley
“Celebrity Justice” has unearthed Leona Helmsley’s videotaped deposition in the case brought against her by ex-Helmsley Park Lane Hotel general manager Charles Bell. It airs today (4 a.m./Ch. 4).
Bell has filed a $10 million lawsuit against Helmsley, claiming she fired him after five months when she found out he is gay. Bell’s lawsuit alleges discrimination and wrongful termination.
On the tape, Helmsley is asked whether Helmsley Hotels has a non-discrimination policy. “We don’t discriminate to start with,” Helmsley replies. “I’m nice to everyone.” At one point, she snaps at a lawyer’s questions with, “I don’t have time to sit and listen to this crap.”
Bells tells “Celebrity Justice” that Helmsley told him to “stay away from the Miami faggot crowd” and to “keep your faggot friends out of my hotel.”
Speaking of celebrities, “Entertainment Tonight” correspondent and supermodel Roshumba Williams has a new pedometer courtesy of Body Solutions – which wanted to know how many miles Williams walks per day. Williams tells the October issue of Fitness magazine that she walks at least two miles a day on the set of “ET.”
‘Crime’ pays for Wolf
NBC has renewed Dick Wolf’s “Crime & Punishment” for a second season. The show aired for 12 weeks last summer, averaging 8.6 million viewers and winning the coveted 18-49 demo in 10 of those telecasts.
Filmed in high-definition video, “Crime & Punishment” followed the San Diego District Attorney’s office through different criminal cases. It also resulted in a marked increase in various help hotlines that were featured at the end of each episode.
Meanwhile, former Ch. 5 news director Susan Sullivan has been named MSNBC’s news director. Sullivan was vice president/news director at Ch. 5 for four years and, before that, was news director at WTTG in Washington. She’s also made stops at Ch. 2 and Ch. 7.
On the local level at NBC, Ch. 4 general manager Frank Comerford and weathercaster Janice Huff will receive an award from the New Yorkers For Children Organization for Ch. 4’s “Wednesday’s Child,” a weekly adoption segment that airs Wednesdays on “Live at Five” (Huff hosts the segments). Huff and Comerford will receive the organization’s Second Annual Nicholas Scoppetta Award for Service to Children.
Pam gets ‘V.I.P.’ treatment from fans
Over half a million Americans have spoken – and given the “V.I.P” treatment to Pamela Anderson.
Anderson’s syndicated show has been voted the “Best Guilty Pleasure” by AOL users voting in the second annual AOL TV Viewer Awards. They also bestowed the “Best Reality Moment” on Sharon Osbourne who, during one episode of MTV’s “The Osbournes,” chucked a ham into her neighbor’s yard. Madonna’s “Drowned World Tour” on HBO was voted “Best TV Concert,” while Sean Hayes (Jack) on “Will & Grace” was voted “Best/Funniest Sidekick.” Hayes is playing Jerry Lewis in an upcoming biopic of Lewis and Dean Martin.
This just in . . .
“Today” show fitness guru (and Self contributor) Kathy Kaehler will strut her moves today (noon) in the window of the renovated Liz Claiborne store on 5th Ave.
Monday on Ch. 13 (10:30 p.m.): New segments of “Souls of New York,” including a trapeze instructor and sketch artist.
Comcast’s Suzanne Roberts has won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy.
On tonight’s “Extra” (Ch. 4): Judge Judy Sheindlin, husband Judge Jerry Sheindlin and dog Lulu in their new place in Conn.