Beyonce keeps Kim Kardashian at arm's length - Chicago Sun-Times

By Bill Zwecker September 4, 2012 8:15PM

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 01: (L-R) Singer Beyonce, rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West and television personality Kim Kardashian attend the 2012 BET Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on July 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)

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Updated: September 5, 2012 2:21AM

Despite the fact that Beyonce’s hubby Jay-Z and Kim Kardashian’s current love Kanye West are close musical and business associates, close observers of Beyonce point out she is not going to become the reality TV star’s new BFF.

“Beyonce is always very cordial with Kim, but she’s keeping her distance. … The Kardashians are not what I’d call inside her comfort zone,” a member of Beyonce’s inner circle said Monday.

“At the end of the day, even though Bey can be very flamboyant on stage when she’s performing, she’s basically a pretty private, even somewhat shy person.

“Don’t get me wrong, she’s a strong personality and makes her opinions very clear, but she’s not into what I’d call ‘personal flamboyance’ â€" like what you see from the Kardashians. … You will never see Beyonce doing a reality show â€" that’s for sure. You know what I’m saying?”

MR. PRESIDENT: As the early fall film festival circuits have critics and industry honchos screening potential Oscar contenders in Venice, Telluride and Toronto, early odds are being placed on possible best actor face-offs at the Academy Awards next February.

One scenario might include Wilmette’s own Bill Murray getting another shot at Oscar gold for playing Franklin Roosevelt in “Hyde Park on Hudson” â€" perhaps contending with Daniel Day-Lewis, who some think could win his third Oscar in Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln.”

A GOOD TREND: The formal announcement Tuesday of ex-NFL star Michael Strahan as Kelly Ripa’s new permanent co-host on “Live” is yet the latest example of smart and attractive African-American men being tapped â€" just this year â€" for high-profile hosting or co-hosting gigs on national talk or entertainment shows. Along with the launch of Steve Harvey’s new daily chatfest, we have Terrence Jenkins named as part-time Chicagoan Giuliana Rancic’s new co-host on E! News (replacing the now too busy broadcaster and media mogul Ryan Seacrest), and Kevin Frazier hosting over at “The Insider.”

“What’s great about this, nobody really makes a big deal about it today â€" nor should they. … Think back to when Arsenio Hall launched his show,” said a veteran Hollywood broadcasting executive Tuesday. “Virtually every analysis of his new show back then made mention of him being black. … Maybe we are finally making some progress on that front!”

† Strahan’s fiancée, Nicole Murphy, got some good news as well. According to TMZ, Eddie Murphy’s ex learned her reality show “Hollywood Exes” â€" also featuring the former wives of Prince, Will Smith and R. Kelly â€" has been renewed for a second season on VH1.

MORE SUPPORT: The Church of Scientology uses the word “hogwash” to describe Maureen Orth’s Vanity Fair cover story about a Scientology-organized “auditioning” of girlfriends for Tom Cruise, prior to him ultimately marrying Katie Holmes. However, the story found a new booster as “Crash” Oscar winner Paul Haggis released a statement basically confirming the key details of Orth’s story â€" including the role played by Iranian-born actress Nazanin Boniadi, dating Cruise briefly from late 2004 to early 2005. Haggis himself was a Scientologist for nearly 35 years but left in 2009 after becoming disillusioned with church leadership.

BABY BEAT: Congrats to Dixie Chicks singer Emily Robison and boyfriend Martin Strayer on the birth Tuesday of baby daughter Violet Isabel Strayer. Checking in at 8 pounds 5 ounces, little Violet joins twins Henry and Juliana, 7, and big brother Charles, 9 â€" children Robison had with ex-husband Charlie Robison.

STILL GOING STRONG: Despite “be careful!” warnings from a number of Katy Perry’s pals â€" reportedly also including her mom! â€" the singer continues to be very into John Mayer, he of serial superstar dating fame. That said, one friend,

Shannon Woodward was overheard at the FYF Music Festival in L.A. being very supportive, saying, “I think these guys really have something special going on.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Internationally known chef and restaurateur Todd English is working on a reality show for the E! network. Among the contributors is Anna Boiardi, heiress to the Chef Boyardee Italian food line â€" a brand found in supermarkets coast-to-coast. Boiardi herself is a chef and cookbook author, whose latest is Delicious Memories: Recipes & Stories From the Chef Boyardee Family.

MICHAEL MOURNED: The outpouring of tweets and statements from the huge legion of celebrities, expressing shock and sadness over the passing of the beloved Michael Clarke Duncan, is thought to be one of the largest such expressions of grief in quite some time. Duncan’s “The Green Mile” co-star Tom Hanks â€" articulate as always â€" perhaps said it best: “He was the treasure we all discovered on the set of ‘The Green Mile.’ He was magic. He was a big love of a man and his passing leaves us stunned.”

Just a few of the famous expressing similar thoughts were fellow Chicago native Sherri Shepherd, Wendy Williams, Russell Simmons, Mario Lopez, Jamie Kennedy, Gabrielle Union, Michael Chiklis, Duane “The Rock” Johnson, Danica Patrick, Holly Robinson Peete and Rosario Dawson.

FIGHTING AIDS: A number of celebrities will hit town Sept. 30 for the 11th annual AIDS Run & Walk â€" with an expected 4,500 runners participating in 5K and 10K courses, beginning at Soldier Field. Wanda Sykes will kick things off at the race start and will be joined by cabaret king Michael Feinstein, BET’s “Ya Heard” new artist competition winner Adam Emil and Jamar Rogers from “The Voice,” who is widely recognized for disclosing his HIV status on national television. For more information on the event, benefitting the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and 35 other organizations in the area providing services for those living with the disease, go to aidsrunwalk.org.