Someone's getting covered (from Blind Gossip)

Here's a good example of then good blinds go bad in the guesses. Blind Gossip's own original items are usually very clearly written and laden with clues... sometimes so many that the answer is as obvious as Tom Cruise's lifts. This seems to be one of those, and most of the guessers are on board. A number of the commenters, however, seem convinced the answer is a little less obvious, which makes this one a good candidate for analysis.

This actor is scheduled to appear on the cover of a major magazine soon. The photo was planned well in advance, and the magazine shelled out a lot of benjamins for the privilege. But now there’s a big old hairy problem.   The accompanying article was supposed to be a complete puff piece. However, due to some recent events that our actor couldn’t control, the editors have a dilemma. If they don’t mention the controversy, they’ll appease the actor, and he will continue to favor them when he plugs a project. If they do use the new information (complete with some racy photos), they’ll alienate the actor. They’ll also face certain legal action by the actor and his singer. But the magazine would definitely sell more copies.

Top guesses?

• John Travolta
• Josh Duhamel
• Jake Gyllenhaal 
• Russell Brand
• Brad Pitt* 

*some people just get guessed for every blind, whether it makes sense or not. He wasn't really a top guess for this one, but the very fact that his name came up simply because of the word "benjamins" made me laugh.

Instead of jumping straight to the top guess (Travolta) and looking at the clues that point directly to him (in a sort of do-not-pass-go, no-$200-for-you sort of way), let's look instead at the other guesses and why they came up.

Josh Duhamel, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Russell Brand are all involved with singers, which is referenced in the blind, and all are no stranger to scandal. Of these three, much as I hate to admit it (since he's like Pitt, a catch-all answer to all blinds these days), the best guess of the three is Gyllenhaal. Dogged for years by gay rumors, currently dating (or maybe "dating") Taylor Swift, and the subject of a dozen saccharine sweet stories of the two going out for coffee and ice cream. Certainly seems like they're ripe for a gooey-sweet tab cover... but if someone actually found evidence that they're not a real couple, things could quickly go in a much different direction. 

Duhamel has been the subject of scandal lately (getting tossed off a plane), as has Brand (arrested; cheating rumors based off his racy past), but they're as generic as store-brand aspirin as guesses for this blind. They're guys with singers who might go sweet or sour. That's all they've got recommending them.

Travolta, on the other hand....

Let's look at the blind again, with certain words bolded:

This actor is scheduled to appear on the cover of a major magazine soon. The photo was planned well in advance, and the magazine shelled out a lot of benjamins for the privilege. But now there’s a big old hairy problem.   The accompanying article was supposed to be a complete puff piece. However, due to some recent events that our actor couldn’t control, the editors have a dilemma. If they don’t mention the controversy, they’ll appease the actor, and he will continue to favor them when he plugs a project. If they do use the new information (complete with some racy photos), they’ll alienate the actor. They’ll also face certain legal action by the actor and his singer. But the magazine would definitely sell more copies.

Would rumors of Russell Brand cheating definitely sell more copies? Does anyone care if Duhamel is screwing around or drinking himself ignorant? Probably not... not enough to really move a magazine. Since we're completely ignoring the Brad Pitt guess, that last line alone is enough to narrow us down to Gyllenhaal and Travolta, but every other bolded clue points to the latter. The two possible covers? A picture of his new son, Benjamin... or more on whether or not Travolta is gay, gay, gay.

• planned well in advance: pregnancy does take a while, I've heard, and it's all the rage to throw your new baby onto the cover of a magazine like People.
• benjamins: see above, re: the name of Travolta's new son.
• hairy: not only is Travolta hairy in general, but he's as well-known for his hair issues as he is for his acting these days.
• recent events: the gay rumors have thickened considerably, especially with Carrie Fisher's recent comments and the reports about Travolta's bathouse behavior.
• plugs: see above, re: hair
• alienate: Scientology, anyway?
• singer: Travolta's lawyer's name is Marty Singer. This is perhaps the strongest clue after "benjamins."
• definitely sell more copies: see above

One or two of these references could be ignored, but so many clues point to Travolta, and as stated above, Blind Gossip's items are often very carefully worded. They could have skipped "benjamins," "singer," "plugs," and "alienate" while still writing the same item... but they didn't.

My verdict: John Travolta (and seems to be the most sensible guess amongst the commenters, too, many of whom very clearly broke down the blind)

But is it true? Guess we'll have to wait to see some future covers. I'd watch People very closely.