The flinch seen 'round the world

So Brad Pitt made an appearance on Wednesday's Today show. And Ann Curry, the go-to person for all things Jolie-Pitts, was tapped to conduct the interview. Given her experience with Brad and Angelina, you would think that the interview would've been a slam dunk... but it wasn't.

It was awkward and kinda creepy. Awkward, because Ann monopolized the conversation... oops, I mean 'interview'. And I definitely got the feeling that Brad Pitt had the feeling that Ann was fishing for something else, besides his insights regarding his upcoming Inglourious Basterds. The creepy came in when Ann, without provocation, grabbed Brad's face, a move that seemed inappropriate and kinda desperate. It was almost like what moms do when a disobedient child ignore the initial gentle suggestion to behave and Mom's trying to regain control.

Maybe Brad sensed that Ann crossed over to the dark side, littered with sequins and bedazzled plastic tiaras. A world where women ask questions but really don't want to hear the honest answers. A feeling he probably sensed back in 1997, when he made the mistake of going on the Oprah Winfrey show. In my mind, that was the end of Brad Pitt being free of princesses' unsolicited attention and verbal expressions of concern about how he should lead his life. He made too good of an impression on that episode... hell, I started crushing on him based on his chill disposition and despite his burgeoning relationship with Jennifer Aniston. Those princesses read too much into that relationship and not enough to his movies or to the fact that he was in the midst of a personal evolution. Instead, he became the 'safe' man, or as I put it, an 'honorary woman'.

Happily, he ditched Aniston and hooked up with Angelina. Unfortunately, that particular pill was a difficult one for the princesses to swallow, hence the incessant tabloid covers and the concerted effort to concoct elaborate anti-Angelina yarns on-line. Should he try to bring the hammer down on the princesses? No, because their anger is bigger than him. And the princesses have a hard time hearing him over the shrieking princess pathology that rule them.

Just look at how he recoiled when Ann attempted to butter him up with the concept of his female fans envying her. Did you see him say 'Thank you, but it's time to move on'.

Not the sound of someone drinking in the princesses ever ready, everpresent contribution to the current celebrity climate, i.e. Heathers-like high school backbiting bullshit.

Nor of someone seeking princess forgiveness.