Hollywood Bureau

This just in –
Our correspondent in Tinseltown has confirmed that ugly mobs in the UK are up in arms over gringo, Meryl Streep, being chosen to play the role of Margaret Thatcher.

In an unprecedented backlash directed at the “colonies,” Brits across the island nation took to the streets in response to the casting of the American actress in the title role of “The Iron Lady.” “Why didn’t they just cast Queen Latifah? At least she’s got a title,” snarled one irate fishmonger. “What’s with these bloody Yanks? They think all Canadian actors are American and they probably think the Beatles were Americans.”

Following her triumphant turn as “Sheena Queen of the Jungle,” Streep responded to the barrage of criticism with typical British stoicism, “There’s an upcoming biopic on Reagan called “The First Zombie President,” I think Helen Mirren would be wonderful in the title role.”

This is a trend that the industry has called “too much medication” casting. Ever since Betty White played Dick Cheney in the “Rambo” remake, casting against type has become a popular but transparent device to garner Oscar nominations.

On our side of the pond audiences seemed more sanguine. “No one seemed to mind Julia Child being the French Chef,” commented Randall Bowlton, self described “tall jockey.” He went on, “and speaking of France, how about that guy Sarkozy casting Salma Hayek as a Chevalier in The Legion of Honor just for being smoking hot.”

Hayek is not the first actor to receive that honor; others include Clint Eastwood and Jerry Lewis, both less hot and neither of whom was considered for the Thatcher role.

The editorial staff at The Tattler feels strongly that Ms. Hayek is welcome to any award she wants and if she drops by the office, we’ll do our best to get it for her. The same goes for Margaret Thatcher and Meryl Streep. Clint and Jerry are welcome too. But we really think Salma would have been great as Thatcher.