Cincinnati Reds help DeGeneres land Clooney

Cincinnati Reds help DeGeneres land Clooney

CINCINNATI — Ellen DeGeneres, who made it her mission to snare actor George Clooney for her daytime television show, finally has him on board.

No lure worked until Clooney jumped at the chance to appear with Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan.

DeGeneres had conducted a “George Watch ’08” campaign to get Clooney. Her theme this year was “George Clooney Is Mine In ’09.”

Clooney’s “ER” co-star Noah Wyle told DeGeneres that some Big Red Machine players from the 1970s might pique Clooney’s interest because he grew up around Cincinnati and is a big Reds fan.

Team executives helped line up the appearance by the baseball players.

The show was taped Thursday in Burbank, Calif., and will be broadcast today.

Today’s birthdays

Actress Jean Stapleton is 86. Actor Fritz Weaver is 83. Actress Tippi Hedren is 79. Movie director Richard Lester is 77. Singer Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers is 70. Actor-singer Michael Crawford is 67. Actress Shelley Fabares is 65. Country singer Dolly Parton is 63. TV chef Paula Deen is 62. Singer Martha Davis of The Motels is 58. Singer Dewey Bunnell of America is 57. Actor Desi Arnaz Jr. is 56. Comedian Paul Rodriguez is 54. Actress Katey Sagal (“Married ...With Children”) is 52. Keyboardist Mickey Virtue of UB40 is 52. Actor Paul McCrane (“ER”) is 48. Singer-guitarist John Wozniak of Marcy Playground is 38. Actress Drea de Matteo (“Joey,” “The Sopranos”) is 37. Actress Jodie Sweetin (“Pants-off Dance off,” “Full House”) is 27.