Money makes the world stop for star, beau

POKWANG doesn’t approve of Ryan Bang for her daughter.

Mole is certain that money was the reason Alluring Star broke up with Hunky Beau. She realized that he couldn’t provide the life of luxury she had gotten accustomed to, since he wasn’t earning as much as she was. It was that simple.

Perhaps AS was just concerned about the future. When she is no longer young, beautiful and popular, how will she pay the bills? Surely not with HB’s meager income.

Alas, Powerful Insider also made sure AS would see that.

Chip off the old block

Staffers got exasperated with Budding Celeb on the set of a high-profile project.

BC was finicky, since the location was a decrepit old house. Handlers sprayed the place incessantly with disinfectant before BC’s grand arrival.

BC immediately got manic, complaining about the workplace. Cantankerous Parent overheard BC’s incessant whining and said, “Don’t worry … we are still rich. We will never end up in a dump like this.”

The kaimito doesn’t fall far from the tree—no, sir.

BRADLEY Cooper plays disfigured man in Broadway play. AP

Self-Google

The “selfie” is soooo 2013; self-Googling is the “in” thing for Pretty Starlet.

Mole made a random remark about PS online. Who should react but PS herself?!

Net Basher cracked a hilarious joke about PS. Once again, PS was quick to defend herself.

Looks like PS Googles herself, to nip criticisms in the bud. She has taken on the role of social media cop with alarming earnestness.

Not-so-big spender

From the Inquirer Radio program “Inquirer Entertainment” (dzIQ 990 AM, Monday to Friday, 3 to 5 p.m.):

Remember Controversial Personality, who didn’t blink when Hot Hunk asked for P20,000 as talent fee for a forbidden night?

MARIAN Rivera bared more than what she intended at the Sinulog festivities.

How could CP afford to be such a big spender? CP is not exactly visible/gainfully employed these days.

Turned out, a wealthy clan has adopted CP as their own. Do they know that their “cute” pet has been frittering away their moola on boys-for-rent?

Swing-out brother

From the Inquirer tabloid Bandera:

Apart from Glib Celebrity, Talented Artist frequents a certain wellness spa that offers dubious services.

Insiders thought TA was gay, having been linked with Closeted Cutie. Seemed CC was not entirely successful in recruiting TA into the rainbow coalition.

TA patronizes the massage parlor’s female attendants with astonishing regularity. His fave masseuse swears by TA’s masculinity.

Perhaps TA swings both ways?

Chevalier Brillante Ma. Mendoza

Filipino filmmaker Brillante Ma. Mendoza was conferred the title Chevalier  (Knight) in the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) at a reception led by French Ambassador Gilles Garachon at his residence on Thursday.

FRENCH Ambassador Gilles Garachon (left) pins medal on Brillante Ma. Mendoza.

Mendoza was cited for being “one of today’s most prolific storytellers in film.”

Garachon said in his speech, “A [new wave] of Filipino filmmakers is coming out with beautiful movies … sharing Philippine stories [with] the whole world. Brillante … is leading this new generation of talented directors.”

Mendoza is the first and only Filipino to receive the Cannes Film Festival Best Director award for his 2009 entry, “Kinatay.”

In his acceptance speech, Mendoza said, “It was Cannes that gave me major recognition as a filmmaker.”

Created in 1957, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is one of France’s highest awards established to recognize French citizens and foreigners for their significant achievements in the field of arts or literature, or for their contribution to the promotion of French arts and literature in the world.

Ugly role for sexy actor

NEW YORK—Bradley Cooper, not too long ago crowned “sexiest man alive” by People magazine, is coming to Broadway in an ugly role.

Producers said Thursday that the actor will star in “The Elephant Man” this fall. It’s about a disfigured man in Victorian London whose inner goodness makes people re-evaluate their notions of beauty.

Directed by Scott Ellis and costarring Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola, the Broadway revival will be at a Shubert theater to be announced later.

Cooper was last on Broadway in 2006 opposite Julia Roberts and Paul Rudd in Richard Greenberg’s “Three Days of Rain.” The last time “The Elephant Man” was on Broadway was in 2002, with Billy Crudup in the starring role. AP

Hasty Pudding man

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts—Neil Patrick Harris has been named Man of the Year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals.

The Emmy Award-winning actor, who made his name on television as child doctor “Doogie Howser M.D.” and is more recently known for his role as the womanizing Barney in “How I Met Your Mother,” will be given his pudding pot following a parade through Harvard Square and a roast scheduled for Feb. 7.

Hasty Pudding Theatricals is the United States’ oldest undergraduate drama troupe, dating to the late 18th century. Its awards are presented annually to performers who have made a lasting contribution to entertainment.

Last week, Helen Mirren was named Woman of the Year. AP

Top of Bandera

The top show biz news in the Inquirer tabloid Bandera (and why we are moved, if we are moved):

Matteo Guidicelli biglang nanginig dahil kay Sarah Geronimo. (Pop Princess must be the princess of his heart!)

Sarah  lolokohin at paglalaruan lang ni Matteo. (’Sus! She’s a big girl.)

Kaya pala laging nag-iingat si Robin Padilla sa kama; Mariel Rodriguez: Ayoko pang mabuntis, hindi ko kaya … mamamatay ako! (Then don’t. ’Sus uli!)

Hubad na litrato ni Kristoffer Martin hinarang ng GMA 7, mga beki umalma. (Does it show something impressive?)

Bong Revilla pinakain ng masasakit na salita ng mga bashers. (Let’s stay away from this.)

Tatay ni Angel Locsin botong-boto kay Luis Manzano: “Hindi kasi siya nakalimot kahit hiwalay na kami!” (OK, book the church!)

James Younghusband ayaw kay KC Concepcion, mas type pa rin si Angel para kay Phil. (Huwag makialam, bro.)

Angel:“Basta mahal ko si Luis at gusto ko siyang makasama!” (Lucky-er the second time around?)

Martin Escudero nag-ala Chito Miranda sa “sex scene” nila ni Neri Naig. (Si Chito ang peg?)

Marian Rivera “nasilipan” habang nasa parada ng Sinulog. (She’s worn, uh, not much at work; no more mystery there.)

Pokwang kukutusan ang anak ’pag nakipag-boyfriend kay Ryan Bang. (Bang! You’re dead.)