Dirt

Well kids, 2004 is already off to an interesting start. Let’s see how our old friends in the biz are starting the year…

Talk About…

Normally Dirt wouldn’t start with Talk About, but there’s something particularly juicy – dirrrty if you will – that we must discuss: Janet Jackson’s peep show on the Super Bowl Half-Time Show.

At the tail end of Justin Timberlake’s “Rock your Body,” Miss Jackson got nasty. As Justin uttered the last lyrics of the tune, “bet I have you naked by the end of this song,” he ripped a cup from her leather bustier, exposing her entire breast (and a rather bling-bling nipple piercing) on national television.

Trust me, Cameron Diaz is the least of Justin’s worries. CBS is pissed. Big pissed. Howard Dean-red-faced-ranting-pissed.

In an official statement made directly after the Sunday night telecast, CBS blasted sister-network MTV, the producers of the half-time show, for allowing the raunch to launch.

“They were totally inconsistent with assurances our office was given about the content of the show,” officials said of MTV, slapping them in the face by adding, “It’s unlikely that MTV will produce another Super Bowl halftime.”

And all over a little frontal! Timberlake, tail between his legs, released an apology following the CBS whip-cracking, saying the “wardrobe malfunctioning” was never intended. Right. Just like the following play on words is meant to celebrate his craftsmanship as a songwriter: Bet I have you dirrrty by the end of this column!

Berry blunder

Clumsy Halle Berry has been injured yet again on-set. The 38-year-old Gothika star collided with a piece of equipment while filming a chase scene on the set of her new movie Catwoman.

Reps for the flick said she checked into a Vancouver hospital last Saturday night, licked the wounds clean and was back to work on Monday. This is not the first time the former Mrs. Eric Benet has hurt herself on the job: Other documented boo-boos include eye-issues on the set of Die Another Day and a broken arm thanks to Gothika buddy Robert Downey, Jr. Peace be with the productions’ insurance agent.

Osbourne Overload

The year 2003 was not kind to America’s first dysfunctional family, and 2004 isn’t off to a good start.

First there was Sharon’s colon cancer, then Jack’s substance abuse with subsequent rehabilitation, Ozzy’s near-fatal quad accident, and of course, obnoxious media pariah Kelly’s traipsing about the globe drunk, dissing Christina Aguilera and ultimately getting dropped from record label Epic.

Now Kelly is speaking out, claiming a nervous breakdown in the summer of ’03 because of massive stress, now only added to with news of Sharon’s talk show, The Sharon Osbourne Show, getting cancelled. Reps for the MTV Reality stars claim that Sharon asked to be released from her contract to care for a recouping Ozzy, but the show was a ratings dump from its debut.

Here’s hoping for a healthier, happier new year for the Prince of F*ing darkness and his kin.

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Matt DonnellyJosephine Munis can be reached at mattdonn@temple.edu