February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The actor ran into a scheduling conflict with the British film, “Love Actually,” in which he appears with his “Crucible” costar Laura Linney.
We can’t help thinking that Liam’s had a lucky escape from the gloomy-sounding prequel, sequel, or whatever you want to call it. Just look what appearing in the original and two subsequent installments did for the career of Linda . . . Linda . . . whatever her name is.
Watch out for Louis the lout
Possibly the nicest thing about Louis Walsh is that he’s got his finger on the pulse — or should we say, the jugular vein — of public opinion.
Years ago, Walsh noticed that pre-fab pop bands were getting all of the attention, he grabbed a bunch of likely lads, taught them a few songs, and presto! Boyzone. And shortly before the Boyz started looking like MiddleAgedManzone, Louis branched out into girl bands like B*Witched and Bellefire, solo acts like Samantha Mumba, and his most successful act, Westlife. Now, having witnessed the meteoric rise to stardom of snarky “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell, the Barking Brit, Walsh wants a piece of that action.
Consequently, he’s doing his best to be the standout baddie on the latest installment of the British version of the show, “Popstars: The Rivals.” We hear that harsh criticism leveled by the Mouth from Mayo has reduced many — admittedly tune-deaf — pop hopefuls to weeping, wobbly wrecks. But Louis says that’s a load of horse hooey.
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“I wasn’t hard on or rude to anyone on camera,” Walsh told the Sunday World. “I let people down nicely.”
Well, apparently, he doesn’t let them down too nicely. Some have been left “gobsmacked,” while others suffered “cruel insults,” according to show insiders. But Simon pooh-poohs the reports.
“I’m not trying to be [like] Simon,” he said. “I’m not trying to be smart-assed or too nice.”
Walsh does have one trait in common with his British counterpart: his inability to play nice with his fellow judges. While Cowell spent much of his air time trading bitchy comments with faded pop star Paula Abdul, Louis’s nemesis is fellow judge Pete Waterman. The two will choose their own pop bands from the pool of talent, and then each group will release a single. The groups will compete with established acts for the top spot on the British charts. Walsh will helm the girl band, while Waterman will captain the boys.
Naturally, Walsh is highly supportive of his fellow judge.
“There is no way that Waterman will ever pick a boy band that will be half as good as Westlife,” he laughed. “He’s picking people that should not be going through.”
Walsh, for his part, is doing his bit to see that the Irish are well-represented in the pool of finalists.
“I’m pushing Irish talent because I think it’s the best,” he said. “I am pushing the Irish more than anyone else in the show.” Sure, isn’t he a little dote?
Wee Daniel to tie the knot
There’s definitely something in the air these days: everyone, but everyone is getting hitched. It’s getting so that one can barely pass by a church without getting pelted with rice, showered with rose petals or pooped upon by little white doves.
Forgive us if we sound a bit crabby, it’s just that we haven’t received from the shock of hearing that Ireland’s most eligible-est bachelor boy is getting ready to plight his troth. Yes, girls, Donegal’s most famous tea-totaler, Daniel O’Donnell, is officially off the market — at least, according to the Sunday Independent. We hear that the 40-year-old singer is planning to jump the broom with his fianc