As we’ve seen so often, fame can change things — especially relationships.
That seems to be the case regarding the recent breakup of Pippa Middleton and her beau, Alex Loudon. According to reliable sources in London, there is a bit of fault on both sides here.
Prior to Middleton’s skyrocketing ride to international attention — as the maid of honor for big sis Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, when she married Prince William — it was Loudon who was the more famous half of that duo, thanks to his high-profile career as a top professional cricket player in England. Now a successful investment banker, Loudon also is a longtime pal of William’s — having met the future king while both were students at Britain’s famed Eton prep school.
† That said, another source close to the royals tells me that Middleton has changed a bit since the wedding. “She is handling it pretty well, but she has become a bit full of herself, and it has put a lot of pressure on her relationship with Alex. … I think she now has come to think of herself as a bit of a royal herself — and that’s not easy to live with.
“But then again, how many girls could handle being called one of the world’s great beauties by millions of people?”
LOOK AT ME! A veteran congressional aide shares this tidbit about disgraced U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner: “Anyone who has spent much time in the House [of Representatives] gym may not be as surprised about the Weiner scandal as others. The guy is so into his body. Really obsessed. He always seemed like he was showing off. He loved traipsing around the locker room naked and always was admiring himself in the mirror. … It always seemed a little weird.”
† You knew this was coming. The folks at Herobuilders.com — who regularly bring out “action figures” of controversial newsmakers — is already reporting brisk sales for its Anthony Weiner doll. Marketed at $39.95, its features a likeness of the congressman in workout clothes — with a “Tweet This” note, uh, strategically placed on his shorts.
DOESN’T GET IT: Associates of Bret Lockett — though shocked by his accusations about having an affair with newly engaged Kim Kardashian — do say the New England Patriots player is totally clueless about the media. “He also is surprisingly naive about how things work in the real world,” said a veteran NFL staffer.
That includes how making questionable statements about people can get you sued. According to my source, Lockett was “dumbfounded” that he could be sued for lying about the supposed fling with Kardashian, who he now has admitted he’s never met. “He thought she couldn’t sue him because she’s a public figure — can you believe that!?”
FUNNY FOLKS: T.J. Miller, who earned his comedy stripes in Chicago, is negotiating to play one of the leads in “Road to Nardo,” which will mark comedy writer and Wheaton native Scot Armstrong’s feature directing debut. The Hollywood Reporter says the flick is about two roommates who go through a lot to rescue their pal Nardo — who is stranded naked in Mexico.
Armstrong penned such movies as “Old School,” “The Hangover: Part II” and “Road Trip.”
BAUM BIT: The always fascinating filmmaker John Waters — here to do a Q&A at the Music Box Theatre about his fave film, “The Wizard of Oz” — stayed at the Palmer House and enjoyed chatting with the hotel’s PR director Ken Price, who shared a bit of “Oz” lore.
Seems wallpaper salesman Frank Baum attended a publishing convention at the Palmer House in 1900 — trying to sell his children’s book manuscript, The Land of Oz. After numerous turn-downs, Baum found a publisher, meaning that, in a sense, “the yellow brick road,” actually started at the landmark Chicago hotel!
That seems to be the case regarding the recent breakup of Pippa Middleton and her beau, Alex Loudon. According to reliable sources in London, there is a bit of fault on both sides here.
Prior to Middleton’s skyrocketing ride to international attention — as the maid of honor for big sis Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, when she married Prince William — it was Loudon who was the more famous half of that duo, thanks to his high-profile career as a top professional cricket player in England. Now a successful investment banker, Loudon also is a longtime pal of William’s — having met the future king while both were students at Britain’s famed Eton prep school.
† That said, another source close to the royals tells me that Middleton has changed a bit since the wedding. “She is handling it pretty well, but she has become a bit full of herself, and it has put a lot of pressure on her relationship with Alex. … I think she now has come to think of herself as a bit of a royal herself — and that’s not easy to live with.
“But then again, how many girls could handle being called one of the world’s great beauties by millions of people?”
† You knew this was coming. The folks at Herobuilders.com — who regularly bring out “action figures” of controversial newsmakers — is already reporting brisk sales for its Anthony Weiner doll. Marketed at $39.95, its features a likeness of the congressman in workout clothes — with a “Tweet This” note, uh, strategically placed on his shorts.
DOESN’T GET IT: Associates of Bret Lockett — though shocked by his accusations about having an affair with newly engaged Kim Kardashian — do say the New England Patriots player is totally clueless about the media. “He also is surprisingly naive about how things work in the real world,” said a veteran NFL staffer.
That includes how making questionable statements about people can get you sued. According to my source, Lockett was “dumbfounded” that he could be sued for lying about the supposed fling with Kardashian, who he now has admitted he’s never met. “He thought she couldn’t sue him because she’s a public figure — can you believe that!?”
FUNNY FOLKS: T.J. Miller, who earned his comedy stripes in Chicago, is negotiating to play one of the leads in “Road to Nardo,” which will mark comedy writer and Wheaton native Scot Armstrong’s feature directing debut. The Hollywood Reporter says the flick is about two roommates who go through a lot to rescue their pal Nardo — who is stranded naked in Mexico.
BAUM BIT: The always fascinating filmmaker John Waters — here to do a Q&A at the Music Box Theatre about his fave film, “The Wizard of Oz” — stayed at the Palmer House and enjoyed chatting with the hotel’s PR director Ken Price, who shared a bit of “Oz” lore.
Seems wallpaper salesman Frank Baum attended a publishing convention at the Palmer House in 1900 — trying to sell his children’s book manuscript, The Land of Oz. After numerous turn-downs, Baum found a publisher, meaning that, in a sense, “the yellow brick road,” actually started at the landmark Chicago hotel!
