Bernstein didn’t air talk with ‘jerk’

Of the 600 television shows he's hosted over 20 years, Ed Bernstein's most memorable one might be the one that didn't air.

"He was such a jerk we never aired it," said the Las Vegas injury attorney who hosts "The Ed Bernstein Show" (KVBC-TV, Channel 3, 4 p.m. Sundays).

"He" was late-night talk show host Jay Leno.

"He was so condescending. I got the impression in the middle of the interview that he didn't want to be there. He got sarcastic," said Bernstein, recalling an interview with Leno not long after the latter replaced Johnny Carson in the early 1990s.

The 30-minute show was never about putting guests in the hot seat. Early on the format was segmented, with consumer, political and medical reports "and a quick interview."

But the interviews were more fun, so he focused on guest interviews.

Oscar winner Sir Anthony Hopkins was a prince. No bodyguard, no entourage. "He spent 15 minutes going page to page through a Playbill of 'Equus' with our producer Cristian Lemoine," who had seen him on Broadway.

Marie Osmond was a sweetheart. "Very flirtatious, but I think that's her nature," he said.

The wildest show occurred when LaToya Jackson's three small dogs went into a frenzy and ran around the set, even jumping on a table.

Talk show legend Steve Allen was on the vain side, making sure the cameraman didn't get close enough to see the wrinkles, back in the pre-Botox days.

"Star Trek" icon William Shatner was a bit arrogant, singing legend Frankie Valli "felt underappreciated" and Jerry Springer had bad breath.

DONNY'S FAUX TROT

The Orange County Register asked the burning question: "Are Donny Osmond's pants on fire?"

Or put another way, what was that all about?

For several weeks, Osmond, half of the Flamingo's Donny and Marie Show, has been telling talk show hosts that they had a scoop, that he had "just let the cat out of the bag."

The "exclusive" was that he was "seriously considering" joining "Dancing With the Stars."

The Register noted: "A day after all-but-telling Bonnie Hunt that he's on the cast of the next season of 'Dancing With the Stars,' Osmond told 'Entertainment Tonight' the exact opposite."

"I'm definitely not doing this upcoming season," he told ETonline.com. "If there was an offer on the table, I'd do it in the fall."

Meanwhile, the Register added another name -- Andre Agassi's -- to the list of those "invoking various degrees of believability."

Season eight begins on March 9.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Encore headliner Danny Gans, whose gala opening is Friday, appears on Bonnie Hunt's syndicated TV talk show Monday (KVVU-TV, Channel 5, noon). Hunt enjoyed Gans' appearance so much she said she's flying in for opening night. Also coming: CNN's Larry King.

Lance Burton kicks off "Magic Week" on "The Late Late Show" hosted by Craig Ferguson on CBS (KLAS-TV, Channel 8).

SIGHTINGS

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre, in town for the weekend after a week of sound and fury over his new book, "The Yankee Years."...

Former Oakland Raiders quarterback Kenny "The Snake" Stabler, celebrating his granddaughter's birthday with family at Lavo (Palazzo) on Friday. ...

At Pure (Caesars Palace) on Friday: Wilmer Valderrama, hosting his 29th birthday bash, which included Nicky Hilton and her boyfriend David Katzenberg, comedian and television personality Joe Rogan, comedian Nick Swardson, actor Adam Rodriguez of "CSI Miami," Stavros Niarchos III and NFLers Melvin Fowler (Buffalo Bills), Jevon Kearse (Tennessee Titans), and Kellen Winslow (Cleveland Browns). ...

Reality show star Tila Tequila, hosting at Jet (The Mirage) on Friday. Her group included WWE superstar Diva Tiffany (aka Taryn Terrell), and rock vocalist Alaina Beaton.

THE PUNCH LINE

"(Illinois Gov.) Rod Blagojevich finally showed up for his impeachment trial. He spoke for 47 minutes. They were finally able to nab him with a butterfly net and some AquaNet." -- Jimmy Kimmel

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.