Brüno comes out in theaters tomorrow and the film’s star, Sacha Baron Cohen, was on the Today show this morning (as his Austrian alter ego).  His interview with Matt Lauer verged from hilarious to absolutely shocking and/or ridiculous!

In talking about the places he went to film the movie, Lauer uncovered and discussed the many ills Brüno had committed around the world.  He made comments about the fact that suicide bombers only blow themselves up because they wear unflattering clothing.  He implied that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger was a gay Austrian. 

The climax of the interview came when Lauer informed Brüno that the Austrian Minister to Great Britain had called for a boycott of the film.  He got all teary and emotional and delivered uniquely outrageous words of disgust. 

Watch this (but be forewarned – some viewers might find this offensive):

Today show host, Matt Lauer, interviewed Michael Jackson’s older brother, Jermaine Jackson, this morning and was given a rare behind-the-scene glimpse of Jackson’s beloved Neverland Ranch.

It was a very emotional discussion, of course, with Jermaine speaking candidly about his brother’s death a week ago today.

He recalled how he learned about the tragic news: “She was crying, saying he was dead. To hear my mother say, ‘Michael is dead,’ to feel and hear the tone in her voice to say her child is dead, is nothing that anyone can ever imagine.  I tried to console her but I wanted to see Michael and I wanted to see my brother. To see him there lifeless and breathless was very emotional for me. But I held myself together because I knew he’s very much alive in his spirit, and that was just a shell. But I kissed him on his forehead, and I hugged him, and I touched him and I said Michael, ‘I’ll never leave you. You’ll never leave me.’”

Even more heartwrenching was what he said next:  “I don’t know how people are going to take this, but I wish it was me.  I’ve always felt that I was his backbone; someone to — someone to be there for him.”

I’ve been wondering how Michael’s three children have been coping.  On that subject, Jermaine said that they took the kids to see Michael after he had died: “I know it’s tough, but I think it was the best thing to do. At first I was against it, but what do you say if you don’t show them?”

The children a currently in the care of Michael’s mother, Katharine, which would have been his wishes, according to his will.  Jermaine said: “I thought it was a great will because the children are fine, my mother’s the perfect person to be there, and it’s definitely him.”

He also led Lauer around the massive grounds of Neverland Ranch.

Jermain also spoke of his brother’s strength: “Michael has always been a person who was against anything like that. But I’m not saying it’s right, because it’s not right, but in this business the pressures and things that you go through, you never know what one turn(s) to.”

While funeral plans are still being made, Jermaine did comment on the speculation that Michael could be buried at Neverland: “This is his home. He created this. Why wouldn’t he be here?”

Watch the interview:

SEE MORE PICTURES OF NEVERLAND RANCH AFTER THE JUMP!

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On the Today show, a Texas mother told Matt Lauer about the tragic death of her 21-year-old son and her decision to save his sperm in hopes that she might one day raise her grandchildren.  “It would help to heal my heart somewhat,” Marissa Evans said this morning.

Her son, Nikolas Colton Evans, was died this past Sunday after being attached outside of a bar in Austin, Texas on March 27, 2009.  His mother got permission from a judge to harvest Nikolas’ sperm along with his organs.

“It really wasn’t difficult,” Evans said of her decision. “It was something that he’d talked about since he was a little boy. I always dreamed about watching my children have children of their own … What was difficult was actually losing my son and not being able to see him graduate from college and get married and have children the way other people have children. The whole process has been horrific; this had actually given me a bit of a bright light at the end of this devastating experience.”

In a strange coincidence, she claims that Nikolas wanted three boys of his own and had chosen names for them: Hunter, Tod and Van.  That’s really odd, isn’t it?  I don’t know many 21-year-old guys who have their children all planned out in their minds but I guess anything is possible.

Watch the extremely interesting interview here:

Today show host, Matt Lauer, was in a bicycle accident over the weekend after a deer jumped into his path.  The 51-year-old is a little more injured than originally thought.  Co-host, Meredith Vieira told viewers yesterday that Lauer "thinks the deer was hired by the competition. I hired the deer, but I said, ‘Just graze him.’"

Apparently, it was more than a “graze” since he needed surgery to repair a separated shoulder.  This morning, Ann Curry said that Lauer’s operation went "very well" but that he is probably still in "a lot of pain."

In spite of everything, Lauer is hoping to return to the show later this week.  In the meantime, Lester Holt is filling in for him.

image: NBC Photo

When I was watching Super Bowl XLIII tonight, I was surprised to spot Today show host, Matt Lauer, in a commercial for the new film Land of the Lost.  The movie, starring Will Ferrell, is described on IMDB.com as follows: “Three adults inadvertently stumble into a mysterious land populated by dinosaurs and other creatures, including the mysterious and dangerous race of Sleestak.”

In the clip, Will Ferrell’s character appears on the Today show where it looks like he has a disagreement with Lauer.  Later, in the ad, he actually says “Matt Lauer can eat it.”  Wow!  Watch it here:

Alaskan governor, Sarah Palin, talked to Today show’s Matt Lauer about her experience during the presidential campaign with John McCain.  As you probably know, she was chosen as McCain’s running mate as he ran for President of the United States (they lost to Barack Obama and Joe Biden). 

Her contribution to McCain’s campaign is controversial - many have blamed her for the loss, even.  While talking with Matt, she took the opportunity to respond to the rumors that have plagued her since being launched into the spotlight.

"Never Any Tension" with John McCain

After the jump, watch her talk about her family and her interview with Katie Couric!

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Matt Lauer, of the Today show, was roasted this weekend and they invited Tom Cruise, with whom he has had a famous beef for the last couple years, to participate.  Naturally, the things people say at a roast are pretty mean (but usually truthfully hilarious) and this was no exception.  One thing that Tom said that cracked me up was how his life was all movie sets and parties, while Matt found happiness doing the same thing, day after day, without ever wondering how his life would change.  It was horrible but it was funny.  Watch some clips from the roast:

image credit: NBCMV