Ferrell’s Bush meets Fey’s Palin on ‘SNL’

New York – Appearing as President Bush on the prime-time edition of “Saturday Night Live,” Will Ferrell offered his political “strategery” to Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin.

Ferrell reprised his famed impression of the president on the live “Weekend Update” special Thursday to give an “impromptu” evening address to the nation. He spoke about the election between John McCain and Barack Obama – both candidates, he said, that are “heavily patriotized” and “display much characterization.”

He then gave his endorsement to McCain and Palin, something that they apparently didn’t want. Ferrell said he was unaware that his approval ratings were low because he had several months ago declared the Oval Office a “bummer free zone.”

Speaking to Fey again appearing as Palin, Ferrell informed her that her role as vice president was “the most important in the land” and that the “president can do nothing without checking with the vice president.” Fey corrected him that he had it backward.

Eventually Darrell Hammond as McCain turned up to reluctantly receive the endorsement.

The sketch between Ferrell and Fey was the meeting of two of the most popular political impressions in the show’s history. It might have been complete only if Chevy Chase stopped by as Gerald Ford, Dana Carvey appeared as H.W. Bush and Amy Poehler joined as Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Tom Cruise returns favor to Matt Lauer

New York – Tom Cruise took some shots at Matt Lauer on Friday – this time for fun. But Lauer got in the last word.

The actor was a surprise guest at a Friar’s Club roast of the “Today” show host. He joined Martha Stewart, Brian Williams, Katie Couric and Meredith Vieira to sling insults, proving some of TV’s sunniest personalities could work blue.

Cruise said Lauer was the man “we wake up to every morning – only because we had the channel on NBC before we fell asleep.”

Three years ago, Cruise had berated Lauer on a “Today” show interview for suggesting that psychiatric treatment might help some patients. It was the same year he jumped up and down on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show couch, excited about falling in love with Katie Holmes.

Cruise joked that Lauer had given him some advice before his interview with Winfrey: “Go crazy. Trust me. Trust me. People will love you for it.”

Couric, Lauer’s former “Today” co-host, suggested Cruise was threatened by Lauer. “He wants to be the only heterosexual man in the room who everyone thinks is gay,” she said.

His colleagues and comedians like Richard Belzer roasted Lauer for being a germophobe and having a clothes budget rivaling GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

“I always say, a lot of the outfits you see him wear on the ‘Today’ show, they also make for men,” Williams said.

The celebrity-filled dais at New York’s Hilton Hotel included Aretha Franklin and Donald Trump.

Apparently Cruise didn’t have time to spare, since he made for the exit shortly after his speech. That led Lauer to call after him.

“Tom, can you stay?” Lauer said. “I’ll get a booster seat.”

Vanessa Hudgens loved ‘High School’ graduation

Los Angeles – Vanessa Hudgens, who was home schooled, says starring in the “High School Musical” movies allowed her to live the rites of passage she missed.

Says Hudgens, “I got to experience my prom, I got to wear a cap and gown for the very first time, graduate with people who I really love, the cast. So it’s been a lot of fun.”

Hudgens co-stars in “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” with Zac Efron and Ashley Tisdale, who talked to reporters together in Los Angeles to promote their new movie.

As for Efron’s real-life high school experience, the heartthrob actor says: “I got really good grades. I’m not going to lie.”

Tisdale, who did not belong to any clique and mingled with everyone, says she became friends with the popular kids before realizing “they are not that cool.”

Singer Lorrie Morgan files for bankruptcy

Nashville, Tenn. – Country singer Lorrie Morgan has filed for bankruptcy for primarily business-related debts, according to a court filing.

Morgan filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in federal court, listing her estimated liabilities between $1 million to $10 million. The bankruptcy filing showed her with assets of $500,000 to $1 million.

The 49-year-old singer, who lives in the Nashville suburb of Lebanon, released a statement calling the bankruptcy “an unfortunate yet necessary part of the restructuring of my business.”

“It’s very important to me that my fans and business associates understand that I’m OK,” she said.

“Today’s economic times have affected many American families and businesses. I, along with many of you, am not immune to this fact. I would appreciate the courtesy of my friends and fans respecting my privacy regarding this matter.”

Morgan lists her creditors as the Internal Revenue Service, banks, lawyers and others. Phone calls made by The Associated Press on Friday to Morgan’s bankruptcy trustee and attorney weren’t immediately returned.

In 1992, the singer said she repaid her creditors in full and withdrew a bankruptcy petition after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.