—Denise, Boston If you're asking how much Oprah got...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 17 Jun 2008 | 12:42 am

Karina Smirnoff Talks Mario, Tears Up on Chelsea

Karina Smirnoff sat down with E!'s Chelsea Handler Monday for an appearance on tonight's Chelsea Lately. In the interview, which will air in its entirety on tonight's show,...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 17 Jun 2008 | 12:37 am

Blame for Spears' pap hit-run on the other foot (AP)

AP - A paparazzo who pressed charges against Britney Spears after her car allegedly ran over his foot was himself to blame for any injury it may have caused, prosecutors said in refusing to pursue the case.

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 17 Jun 2008 | 12:15 am

Dad Details Billable Hours Spent With Britney

Britney Spears' father has gotten technical. Following up on his petition to collect "replacement compensation" for the month of February for being the coconservator of his...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 16 Jun 2008 | 11:54 pm

Topshop’s Fall ’08 Collection Hitting New York in October

You're staring at Topshop's fall 2008 collection (not to be confused with Topshop's Unique line). Had these looks been, say, spring 2008, and you really wanted those skinny acid-wash jeans (bring them back — we dare you), you would have had to order them online from the U.K. and pay about a $20 shipping charge. And you wouldn't have even been able to try them on beforehand. Boo, hiss! But these clothes, readers, can grace your figure before you purchase them — in the dressing rooms of America's first Topshop, opening in Soho in October. It's okay: Squeal out loud with us! You'll find the Kate Moss line, Topshop's Unique line, and this collection in its entirety on the sales floor. You can see the rest of this fall '08 line in our online slideshow.

Slideshow: Topshop Fall 2008
Related: Soho Topshop to Sell Candy, New Unique Line, and More Kate Moss

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 11:50 pm

Pellicano Asks for a Do-Over

Now Anthony Pellicano is a stickler for protocol. The disgraced private investigator, who after serving as his own lawyer was convicted last month on 76 of 77 counts of wiretapping,...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 16 Jun 2008 | 11:30 pm

Our Favorite Finds From This Year’s Renegade Craft Fair

On Saturday, we infiltrated throngs of hipsters at McCarren Park Pool to check out the goods at the fourth annual Renegade Craft Fair. The selection was heavy on screen-printed tees and letterpress cards, but the range of accessories turned up some interesting finds, like Loyalty and Blood’s patina-painted brass earrings, lacelike cuffs from Nervous System, and slouchy leather shoulder bags from Hoibo. Torrential rains in the afternoon sent shoppers huddling under water-logged tents while the bolder of the bunch sprinted as fast as their skinny jeans would allow them to nearby bars, and forced crafters to pack up their wares in a hurry. In case crowds of hipsters scare you and you missed the fair or you didn't beat the rain, here are a few of our favorite finds and a list of where you can buy them in stores:

• Devendra necklace: Erica Weiner's collection incorporates found objects from around the world. This necklace pairs a mottled feather and a mesh ginkgo-leaf charm on a brass chain ($35). Available at Cog & Pearl, 190 Fifth Ave., at Sackett St., Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-623-8200

• Fir Earrings: Trained as an illustrator, Laura Su of Prismera Design creates intricate stainless-steel pieces featuring Art Nouveau–inspired botanical shapes like honey locust, fir, or rosemary ($75 to $150). Available at Camilla Boutique, 355 Atlantic Ave., nr. Hoyt St., Boerum Hill, Brooklyn; 718-422-0282.

• Reclaimed-Metal Earrings: Anna Johansson's Anna Built line of earrings is handmade from reclaimed and recycled metals, like tea canisters, enameled cans, or decorative vintage tins ($22). Available at Refinery, 254 Smith St., nr. Degraw St., Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn; 718-643-7861.

• Ant Ring: Though she's known for her whimsical stationery, Leigh Batnick's Vagabond Picnic collection of earrings, necklaces, and rings fitted with gleaming 14-karat-rose-gold ants make for clever summer accent pieces ($200 to $400 each). Available at Catbird, 219 Bedford Ave., at N. 5th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-599-3457.

• Poor Little Rich Girl Bracelet: Joanna Petrone's Ach Ach Liebling line of antique-inspired pieces incorporates brass and hand-fabricated plastic ($45). Available at Catbird’s original location, 390 Metropolitan Ave., nr. Havemeyer St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-388-7688.

• Hand-Crocheted Earrings: A.S.I.S.'s hand-crocheted earrings (short for Angela Spencer's Irresistible Stuff) are woven from vintage cotton, passed down from Spencer’s great-grandmother ($40 to $48). Available at Min-K, 219 Mott St., nr. Spring St.; 212-219-2834.

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 11:25 pm

Taylor Dayne Cops a Plea in DUI Case

Taylor Dayne can tell it to her probation officer now. The Can't Fight Fate singer pleaded no contest Monday to one count of reckless driving in connection with her recent bust on...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 16 Jun 2008 | 11:15 pm

Where in the World Is Samuel Israel III?

Samuel Israel III, the hedge-fund manager who was sentenced to twenty years in the can for defrauding his investors, was expected to report to prison last Monday when his car was found on a bridge with the words “Suicide is painless” scrawled in the dirt on his windshield. But a body hasn’t turned up, and nobody seems to be buying the suicide story. So Israel’s mysterious suicide/disappearance has authorities wondering, Where in the world is Samuel Israel III? Unlike Carmen Sandiego, however, Israel hasn’t supplied fun little clues or entertainment in the form of Rockapella (the FBI is pissed about this). Also, he may really be dead. But if he’s not, it’s likely he escaped to one of the many countries with which the United States has no extradition treaty — i.e., places he can chill out without being shipped home. After consulting our foreign-policy sources – fine, Wikipedia – we were able to compile a list of Israel’s most likely destinations. You’re welcome, U.S. Marshals Service.

• Afghanistan: We hear it’s hard to find people in those mountains.
• Cambodia: There’s only one reason old white men flee to Cambodia, and sorry to say, Israel has that kind of face.
• Bahrain: Here, a felon can live freely on a gaudy man-made island in the shape of a dollar sign.
• São Tomé and Príncipe: We had no idea this country existed, so basically, it's perfect.
• Somalia: With enough cash, he can probably become a moderately successful warlord fairly quickly.
• China: Unless he somehow morphs into toxic dog food, China won’t send him to the U.S.
• Ethiopia: Lost Israelis have a long history here.
• Andorra: Tax haven, baby.
• North Korea: Back problems may get him excused from forced labor camps. Kind of a risk, though.
• Saudi Arabia: It’s like a big beautiful beach, without the water.
• Guinea-Bissau: The new Guinea.
—Dan Amira

The Search for a Missing Trader Goes Global [NYT]

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 16 Jun 2008 | 11:15 pm

Bale: Heath Ledger Not Disturbed by Joker

"It's not for me to tell anybody or to pretend to have insights beyond what I absolutely know, but my instincts are that the idea Heath was disturbed by playing The Joker is...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 16 Jun 2008 | 11:00 pm

Who Will Replace Russert? (Seacrest, Shockingly, Not on Short List)

The folks at NBC News have their work cut out with them, trying to replace the late Tim Russert during such a crucial time in the presidential election. Russert was not just the host of Meet the Press; he also headed operations as the chief of NBC’s Washington bureau. “It’s going to take four or five people to replace Tim,” CBS’ Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer tells the New York Times.

Though the network has refused to comment on a possible replacement out of respect, speculation has already begun as to who will succeed Russert. The L.A. Times says that the conversation is focusing on three NBC personalities: former White House correspondent David Gregory, who was recently given his own show, Race for the White House; Hardball’s Chris Matthews; and Joe Scarborough, host of Morning Joe.

The New York Times is also suggesting that evening-news anchor Brian Williams could be a contender as well as chief foreign-affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell and MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann (though he is an unlikely choice due to charges of windbaggery).

Katie Couric’s name has also come up, as her contract at CBS is expected to end soon. However, the L.A. Times reports that George Stephanopoulos, host of the No. 2 show, ABC's This Week, is an unlikely candidate because he’s expected to have two more years left on his contract.

Whoever the new host of Meet the Press is, his task will be a formidable one. The show has held the No. 1 slot against competitors every week except one for the last six and a half years. According to Politico, the most recent release listed Meet the Press bringing in 4.1 million total viewers, over 55 percent more than ABC's This Week, which came in second place at 2.6 million.

“Nobody should even think about replacing Tim Russert,” Jeff Zucker, the president of NBC Universal, told the New York Times on Sunday. “What someone will need to do is find the next way to do Meet the Press and provide political analysis. Anybody who thinks they can replace Tim Russert is kidding themselves.” —Noelle Hancock

With Tim Russert’s Death, NBC News Must Replace a Man of Many Roles [NYT]
NBC insiders seen as possible successors to Russert [LAT]

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 16 Jun 2008 | 10:45 pm

DA Rolls Over on Britney Foot-Fault Case

Britney Spears' hands are clean as far as the paparazzi's feet are concerned. The Los Angeles District Attorney has declined to file charges against the tarnished popster,...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 16 Jun 2008 | 10:40 pm

Replacing Russert tough task for NBC News (AP)

AP - Still reeling from Tim Russert's death, NBC News must now contemplate replacing the man who not only dominated the Sunday morning talk shows, but served as chief political commentator and ran the Washington bureau.

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 16 Jun 2008 | 10:39 pm

Is ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic America’s Greatest Living Patriot? Yes, Say Some

In yesterday's New York Times, Michael Slackman, a Middle East correspondent for the paper, writes of the difficulty of raising two young sons in the "chaotic streets" of Cairo, Egypt: "They have spent much of their formative years in a society that prizes conformity over individuality; where people dare not question authority; where the idea of following your dreams is, for most, not even a dream." It's a problem surely faced by Middle East correspondents of newspapers the tri-state area over: How does a parent instill American ideals in his children while so far from home? Luckily, Slackman has found the solution: by sharing with them the joy of "Weird Al" Yankovic, the United States' preeminent song parodist and, arguably, its leading exporter of liberty.

Slackman writes that, through "Weird Al"'s music, his son "has latched onto a great American freedom — the one to poke fun at whomever, especially ourselves." "'Weird Al''s antics," he continues, "his 'Christmas at Ground Zero' or 'White and Nerdy' couldn't have happened in a society that didn't encourage diversity, tolerance and compromise." We don't have much to add to this, apart from our earnest, wholehearted agreement. We've long been champions of "Weird Al" as an artist, but, until now, we never really considered his greater impact as an American patriot. In some countries, the punishment for playing accordion solos or penning alternate lyrics about food to Michael Jackson songs is death. And to all citizens of those countries, "Weird Al" Yankovic is truly a beacon of hope.

Thanks, Weird Al, You Model American [NYT]

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 10:30 pm

The Possibly Cuckolded Wall Street Dad

Once a week, Daily Intel takes a peek at what your friends and neighbors are doing behind doors left slightly ajar. Today, the Possibly Cuckolded Wall Street Dad: 51, male, derivatives trader, financial district, straight, married.

DAY ONE
6:18 a.m.: Woke up with the little guy stretching himself out under the covers. Wife says I'm like an 18-year-old in the mornings. I always tell her she can be my "cougar," but we never get any early-morning dalliances. We have been together for eight years. I did not want to marry a second time, especially someone eleven years younger, so we lived together for three years, and the sex was great. Got married, and our sex life changed to zilch overnight. Wife out of town at a conference. Help little guy stretch to our mutual satisfaction.
7:02 a.m.: Drifting back to sleep.
7:12 a.m.: Youngest daughter (preschooler) of two, barking orders from living room. She is hungry and wants her shows on TV. Need to be out the door in 90 minutes for a Saturday gym class with youngest daughter.
9:30 a.m.: Gym class a playground for the dads. A few cute mothers and many hot young gymnastics instructors. Can't keep my eyes off the one with the tight gym pants and low cut T-shirt. I bet she likes to stretch.
12:30 p.m.: Take youngest daughter to quick lunch with one of my employees. She is very nice, but I can't even think about it, because she looks the same age as my other daughter, a middle schooler from the first marriage.
3 p.m.: : No word from wife. She goes to this conference every June for the last three years. Hmmm … a conference that starts on Tuesday and lasts through Sunday morning? Wife never wants to have sex anymore, but when we dated, she wanted it three times a day. I know she has a few male clients that appear to get very flirty in their e-mails to her —I do covertly check her e-mails once in a while. Did she deceive me about her appetite, or does she give it at the office?

8:30 p.m.: Wife calls from last night of conference to speak to daughters while I am trying to get them ready for bed. Someone keeps whispering to wife in background and I hear water splashing. I am told it is my imagination — she is in a spa getting treatments. Really? This time of night on the last night of a conference? I conclude she has a “same time next year” relationship with a conferencegoer.
10:30 p.m.: Retire to computer screen to check e-mail accounts (all five) but am sidetracked by Redtube. Laptop warms lap. Must stretch little guy. Place ad on Craigslist. Want to meet a married woman in same situation, a "dry" marriage.

DAY TWO
7:30 a.m.: Youngest daughter wakes me up with cheers that Mommy is coming home today. I was dreaming of going down on the redhead delight in the office across the hall. Curtains matched the drapes in my dream — but very unlikely in real life.
1 p.m.: Birthday party with youngest. One of the married mothers keeps giving me the eye — low-cut jeans, nice body, white T-shirt.
6:30 p.m.: Mommy home and two daughters are in pandemonium. Mommy looks very hot and very tanned. She seems very pumped up for just having been on a three-hour flight and commute from the airport.
10 p.m.: Daughters in bed. I am reading, but wife interrupts to start an argument about me not calling her at the conference. If I called her, she would be complaining that I was checking up on her — always lose-lose. She likes to implement this conflict strategy around bedtime to prevent any sexual advances. She looks hot while she is complaining, giving me a headache.
Midnight: Wife finally stops with the attack and retires to bed. She had me at WTF.
12:05 a.m.: I take laptop on to the couch and check e-mails. Nothing from Craigslist ad. I really doubt that people hook up on Craigslist. Redtube does its job to our mutual satisfaction.

DAY THREE
6:45 a.m.: Back from morning run, but before stepping into shower, as I place my clothes in laundry hamper, I notice wife's laundry from her trip — two short nighties? She wears sweatpants seven nights a week. Should I say anything? For full disclosure, I have not had an affair yet (was even faithful in first marriage), but I cannot live in a sexless marriage. Okay, we have sex about twice a month. Not enough! A couple of close encounters, but I need it to be the right person, a connection. I never thought I would be in this situation, but I can certainly understand why men cheat.
10:10 a.m.: Wife e-mails that she went to the office instead of taking the day off to run errands. I call her office about 10:55; no answer. I e-mail her back to call me; no answer. I call her cell phone; no answer. For the next two hours, I try to reach her every twenty minutes. Three e-mails and four cell-phone calls later, I give up — this is very unlike her. She is always in touch.
Noon: Things are dead at work, so I walk home for lunch. My heart is pumping as I get to the apartment, but no one is home. Am I crazy to think something is going on?
12:30 p.m.: I call her cell phone from home. She answers — I guess she thought the nanny was calling about youngest. She says that she just got back to the office and was only gone for an hour and did not take her cell phone or BlackBerry with her. I tell her that something does not feel right. She tells me I need help. Am I crazy to think something is going on? I pack a bag and call friend who has offered his couch during fights before.
6 p.m.: Friend is excited to have me in the singles' camp with him. He has needed a wingman. He asks how serious this is. I am still in shock and tell him I am not sure what the future holds but feel like I need answers about her suspicious behavior. I drink too much.
8:30 p.m.: Call home to talk to youngest daughter. Wife answers. She asks me not to discuss any details of what is going on with daughter. I tell youngest that I am out on business, working late and will not be home for next few nights.
8:45 p.m.: Call older daughter at her mother's home. She asks where I am — guess she had called me at home. I tell her I am at a friend's house, that there was an argument. Her only concern is that she will be able to see her youngest (sister). She loves having a sister. I tell her I love her and that "you two girls are the best thing to ever happen to me."
9:30 p.m.: Cell phone rings, caller I.D. says it is home. I ignore. I need to think about everything that has happened.
11 p.m.: Trying to get to sleep on very lumpy and dusty couch. No thoughts of sex tonight, only of my daughters and how they will handle this.

DAY FOUR
8:30a.m.: Wait outside apartment for wife to leave, then go in to say hi to youngest daughter and get a few things. She asks if Daddy is going to a conference too. Breaks my heart.
1:40 p.m.: Starbucks on Wall Street. Make small talk with young girl in line. We exchange cards. I throw the card in my desk drawer. I will never call her.
5:30 p.m.: Meet friends for happy hour at local Wall Street watering hole called Ulysses, where many a siren comes to entice finance guys. I play wingman like I promised, but my heart is not in the game — WTF, do I really have to be honest about my situation with anyone I talk to tonight? Drink copious amounts of Scotch.
8 p.m.: Go on long run. Some of my best runs are after drinking.
11 p.m.: Back to friend’s apartment. Did not call home since I saw youngest this morning. Want Redtube fix, but not on my friend's couch.
3 a.m.: That girl from Starbucks creeps into my dreams and I use the next waking hour making sweet love to her in a fantasy.


DAY FIVE
10 a.m.: Someone at work asks me why I don’t talk to my wife about my feelings.
11:45a.m.: Take her advice. Wife sends e-mail asking me why I am telling youngest daughter about our split. I call her, explain my feelings, and she tells me that I am crazy to suspect her of cheating, that it is the furthest thing from her mind, that she would not jeopardize our family. Sounds like things I would say if I were caught. She asks if I can babysit for her on Thursday night so she can go out with some friends. I want an evening with my daughter, so I agree.
1:30 p.m.: Receive e-mail response from Craigslist ad. She tells me in e-mail that she has had three affairs over last five years and has a great relationship with her husband that she does not want to change. Picture very tasteful, but I do not find her attractive. Claims she has athletic body and is a runner — I do not see evidence in the picture of these claims. I e-mail her back and say that I am looking for someone local. Not sure I could follow through no matter what she looked like.
10 p.m.: Very tired, I have not had a good night's sleep in weeks. No time for self-love.
3 a.m.: Awake again with thoughts of Starbucks girl that soon turn to fantasy with wife. I love her and wish things were somehow different.

DAY SIX
1 p.m.: E-mail from wife says to meet her at ballet class for youngest daughter to see her recital. Must bring pink flowers.
4:30 p.m.: Arrive at ballet class with flowers. Daughter smiles BIG when she sees me, makes it all worthwhile.
6 p.m.: Wife looks great (sexy) for her night out. I tell her so. She proceeds to tell me that for the last time, she is not having an affair and she wants us to work this out for youngest. I tell her that I would love to believe her and give her the benefit of the doubt, but only if she wants to work it out for us, not just for the girls. She agrees and lays a big kiss on me, and I think I am going to get lucky tonight for some great getting-back-together sex.
11 p.m.: Babysitting and very horny waiting at home for wife to come home. Thought she would be home by now if she cared.
11:45 p.m.: She walks in the door. Says dinner was over at 10:30, but stood on the corner talking to her friend for the last hour. I am hurt she did not want to hurry home. She climbs in bed next to me, we kiss and dry-hump for fifteen minutes, then she says even though she wants to, we can't have sex until we talk. Does she have something important to confess?

DAY SEVEN
Noon: Wife sends me e-mail telling me to bring my stuff home from my friend’s house. She wants me there for the weekend to be with the children.
5 p.m.: I walk in the door with my stuff. Hugs from youngest, then older daughter. Finally wife greets me in a very sexy low-cut top and tight jeans with a great kiss and hug. This could be my lucky day.

10 p.m.: Girls finally in bed. I grab a book to read in bed, wife climbs in next to me. She has already undressed. We start kissing, then she interrupts to talk. Really, she could say anything right now and I wouldn't care. She says she understands why I am thinking too much and reading too much into her actions, but I have to trust her for us to work. We have some great sex for the next hour, watch the news, then we have a quickie. Grand.

TOTALS: Four acts of masturbation, two with Redtube inspiration; three nights spent on a friend’s couch; two acts of intercourse with wife; one ad posted on Craigslist.

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 16 Jun 2008 | 10:15 pm

NYCB spring season highlighted by stellar Woetzel (AP)

AP - Two compelling figures have dominated the rich spring season at New York City Ballet: a choreographer and a dancer.

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 16 Jun 2008 | 10:02 pm

Lindsay Lohan Hilariously Withdraws Name From Emmy Consideration

Bad news for Emmy voters: You will not have the opportunity to vote for Lindsay Lohan this year. Oh, we know. Lindsay played the hell out of her four lines in the season finale of Ugly Betty (see above), but she's decided not to submit her name for award consideration. And it's not because her character is being written as a boring, self-absorbed harpy, either.

Look, Lindsay knows she's talented. She knows that in those four lines, she probably made such an impression that voters will be scanning their ballots and asking, "BUT WHAT OF LINDSAY LOHAN?" She knows it seems like she's owed an Emmy after not even being nominated for her 2004 appearance on That 70's Show. Even though two of her four lines were "Betty!" and "That's okay," she knows there are no small parts, only very small odds of winning an Emmy, which is what everyone else would have had if she hadn't withdrawn from the race. This whole thing makes us hope Britney Spears wins for her work on How I Met Your Mother (hilariously, Britney did submit her name for consideration) just so we can start a big fight about how it's just like the 1980 summer Olympics and Britney wouldn't have won if Lindsay hadn't stayed home. —Linda Holmes

Lindsay Lohan didn't submit herself for an Emmy — but Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Mary-Kate Olsen are in the race [Gold Derby/LAT]

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 10:00 pm

'Hulk' grabs the green with $55 million debut (AP)

AP - "The Incredible Hulk" pulled his weight at the box office, debuting as the top weekend movie with $55.4 million.
Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 16 Jun 2008 | 9:58 pm

'Hulk' Flexes Big Box Office Muscle

Marvel's "Hulk" smashed the competition with a $54.5M opening weekend.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 16 Jun 2008 | 9:58 pm

An Ironic Gwyneth Paltrow Moment in ‘Harper's Bazaar’

Behold! Gwyneth Paltrow and her legs continue their world tour in the current issue of Harper's Bazaar. She's somehow managed to increase the surface area of bare skin between shoe and hemline since her Iron Man premieres. Now maybe this is just us, but does anyone else see this picture-quote combo (it reads, "I don't want to look like a mother who doesn't care") as about as ironic as rain on your wedding day or a free ride when you've already paid? We get what she's trying to say — she doesn't want to look like a mom who spends so much time taking care of her kids that she completely neglects herself, develops cellulite, and forgets how to use her eyelash curler. That's great. But doesn't that outfit in fact make it look like she doesn't care about her kids as much as having sex appeal illustrated with an ass-cleavage-exposing sequined dress/shirt? We hope we weren't the only ones who saw it that way at first glance. You know, before we thought long and hard about really committing to Pilates this summer and, after staring at it long enough, realized the intended point.

The Truth About Gwyneth Paltrow [Harper's Bazaar]
Related: Dear Gwyneth Paltrow: Skin Is Not Always In

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 9:55 pm

Makers of Racist Obama Monkey Cease Manufacturing of Racist Obama Monkey

Update: Last week Daily Intel brought you the news that a Website called TheSockObama was peddling an Obama monkey doll. After we inquired, they sent us a long apology that was kind of bizarre, though we did enjoy the part where they compared Hillary to a squirrel. They wrote: “We at TheSockObama Co. are saddened that some individuals have chosen to misinterpret our plush toy.” Now the makers of TheSockObama has announced on its Website that they have decided not to make the Obama monkey. The site reads:

AN APOLOGY We are very apologetic to all who were upset by our toy idea. We will not be proceeding with the manufacturing of this toy. Thank you. GD

No, thank you, GD! —Noelle Hancock

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 16 Jun 2008 | 9:45 pm

‘Rupaul’ s Drag Race,’ Not Yet On Air, Already Online

Rupaul’s Drag Race, a reality show that promises to be even gayer than Project Runway and Top Model, won’t air until early 2009, but you need to join the casting competition now: The first round of Internet voting ends soon. And it has already produced much entertainment: a slew of user-uploaded videos and photo-rich profiles of aspiring glamour trannies (and tranny messes) from across the nation. Gay culture gadflies thesword.com have already compiled winners.

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 9:45 pm

Dick Cheney and Mona Lisa Do Battle on Crowded Canvas

The Mona Lisa takes on Dick Cheney — and is clearly winning, with those lush purple lips and that insouciant (pervy) swan lunging from her brain. The work is a triptych: photographs of street art upon photographs upon wheat posters that would be street art if they weren't pasted upon photographs of street art that are graffitied on and hanging in a gallery, namely Artbreak Gallery through June 30. The show is a brainchild of the notoriously harmonious Billi Kid who has collaborated to turn many an urban hellhole into a heavenly playground for political rivalry. —Emma Pearse

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 9:30 pm

Hard-Partying Wino Falls, Lands in Hospital

Amy Winehouse was rushed to the hospital after fainting in her home.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 16 Jun 2008 | 9:23 pm

Heather Mills Is Moving to the West Village

East Village: Bearing eighties-ish "Die Yuppie Scum" posters, about 100 gentrification haters protested outside the new Bowery Wine Company Friday night, even though the wine bar's owner says he donates food to a nearby shelter. [NYT via Curbed, Grub Street]
Downtown Brooklyn: Plans for the funky glass Enrique Norten library for the BAM Cultural District were scrapped, but now developer Two Trees wants Norten to do another project there, a residential-commercial job with some space set aside for artsy stuff. [Brownstoner]
Jackson Heights: This is the city's parking-ticket capital, with more than 20,000 tickets written here so far. But tickets overall in the city are down 13 percent from last year. [NYDN via Streetsblog]

Kew Gardens: Men over 50, this is the place to come tomorrow if you want a prostate screening from Queens beep Helen Marshall, she of the always-innovated hairdos. Or at least this notice suggests as much. [Queens Crap]
Red Hook: In the wee, small hours of the dawn today, the first handful of folks showed up at Ikea, which opens Wednesday, to start what's supposed to be the mother of all queues. Time was when people only did this kind of stuff if they thought it might cure their crippleness or that they'd see the Virgin's face in a rock formation or something. [Racked]
West Village: Fed up with the London press, Paul McCartney ex Heather Mills just dropped $5 mil on one of the glass boxes in Richard Meier's 173 Perry Street. [NYP]
Williamsburg: Oranges with (not very realistic, if you ask us) Obama effigies painted on them were sold at a crafts fair at the McCarren Park Pool. [Newyorkshitty]

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 16 Jun 2008 | 9:15 pm

Kate Moss Launches New Fragrance, Loses Hair

FRAGRANCE
• Kate Moss lost a chunk of her hair extensions on the red carpet when she launched her Velvet Hour fragrance in Berlin. No one really knows what the fragrance smells like, but the ad looks hot. [Sassybella]

• Viktor & Rolf repackaged their fragrances Antidote and Flowerbomb in limited-edition bottles in honor of their show at the Barbican Art Gallery in London. Illustrator François Berthoud created the artwork engraved on each bottle; Antidote's depicts the designers, while Flowerbomb outlines the dolls. [Moment/NYT]

• Antonio Banderas is launching a fragrance called Blue Seduction for Women, the counterpart to his Blue Seduction for Men launched last year. It’s Banderas’s fifth fragrance. That’s a lot of seduction. [WWD]

MAKEUP
• Agyness Deyn's got a gig in Japan. She's the face of the fall campaign for Maquillage, a cosmetics line by Shiseido. [A Touch of Blusher]

• The Clarins Fix’ Make-Up is like hairspray for your face. A few spritzes keep all your makeup in place. [British Vogue]

SKIN
• Estée Lauder releases Super Flight Crème on July 1, a line of skin-care items that adhere to the “100 ml. or less” rule airports started in 2006. Oh, finally — we have just been absolutely dying for someone to do that. [WWD]

• In L.A., Kiehl’s offers curbside pickup. It's like a fast-food drive-through, but for your skin-care needs. People in L.A. are so lazy. [LAT]

• Papaya extract is the magic ingredient in Origins’ Never a Dull Moment skin-brightening face polisher. It scrubs with the power of several exfoliators at once, one tester claims. Sign us up. [Beauty Snob]

HAIR
• Stylist David Babaii gave Angelina Jolie her super-voluminous hair do for her Vanity Fair cover. He also just released a line of hair-care products with Kate Hudson. So he’s pretty unstoppable right now. [Jet Set Girls]

NAILS
• The M.A.C Neo Sci-Fi collection has a great copper nail color called Metalist. It’s a funky departure from summer neons that are getting kind of old. [All Lacquered Up]

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 9:00 pm

Tony Shafrazi Puts Art on Top of Art, and Other Culture Highlights From the Magazine

In this week's issue of New York, Vulture's Dan Kois checks in with Dash Shaw, graphic novelist of the year. Which new books are worth the hardcover price? New York investigates. David Edelstein on The Incredible Hulk: "It’s like the projectionist left out a reel." Sara Cardace is your guide to the New York Asian Film Festival. Jerry Saltz visits "Who's Afraid of Jasper Johns?" at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery. Alexandra Lange annotates Buckminster Fuller's "Dymaxion Dwelling Machines." Brian Thomas Gallagher gets up close and personal with pantsless subway patrons Improv Everywhere. And John Leonard reviews (and likes!) USA's In Plain Sight.

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 9:00 pm

Patti Solis Doyle Hired by Obama Campaign

Barack Obama has hired Patti Solis Doyle, the Clinton campaign manager who was ousted in February, as the chief of staff to the vice-presidential candidate. Doubtless, some Clinton supporters will read a lot of meaning into the appointment of a longtime Clinton friend to such a position as a sign of hope that Obama really is considering the New York senator as a running mate, but fat chance, says the Washington Post:

Given that Solis Doyle was fired from the Clinton campaign, is now at odds with several senior officials who remained and has a strained relationship with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton herself these days, the appointment may well signal that Clinton's chances of being picked for the vice presidential slot are close to nil.

"Strained relationship" may be putting it mildly.

Last week, the Times reported that Solis and Clinton haven't even spoken since Solis was sacked. "If anything," Clinton loyalists told the Washington Post "it is an insult."

But don't lose hope, Hillary fans: Remember, this is a woman who went back to her husband after his escapades with a White House intern made international news. We doubt this slight will stop her from trying to work it out.

Former Clinton Campaign Manager Joins Obama Team [Caucus/NYT]
Solis Doyle Joins Obama Campaign [WP]

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 16 Jun 2008 | 8:45 pm

‘Battlestar Galactica’: Season Hiatus Brings Answers, Honest-to-God Answers!

Suffering through the convoluted plot twists and out-of-character action marring recent shows, we've told ourselves that all Battlestar chesslike moves were groundwork for something amazing. And our patience actually paid off! “Revelations,” the last episode before the season hiatus, might even sustain us until the show resumes in 2009.

They Have a Plan
So what did we get — the identity of the last Cylon or the location of Earth? Well, our expectations were upended again. We got the ending that found the Fleet and Rebel Cylons working together to find the planet — and discovering it had been nuked! All the hugging upon the discovery pretty well indicated a twist was coming, but the gut-punch shot of a decimated cityscape was truly epic. Did the human race destroy itself? Did the hawkish Cylon faction get there before our heroes? And does any of this explain what happened in The Road?

There were many other little tidbits. D’Anna claimed that the final Cylon is not in the Fleet, so it’s probably someone she hasn’t seen before. Does that make our left-field pick —Adama’s long-dead son, Zak — more likely? We think so! Of course, anyone who died before the show or during the Cylons’ initial strike on the colonies is probably in play now, too.

Meanwhile, it's becoming more clear that the fate of the human race might just rest on Lee Adama’s shoulders. As the interim president, he had to square off against D’Anna, who's after the four Cylons, and deal with his father’s mental collapse. With Bill’s fragile state and Laura Roslin’s terminal cancer, someone is gonna need to make the big decisions, and Lee’s new position of authority is in keeping with Battlestar's recent transference of power to the younger generation.

And let’s not forget the four Cylons who have revealed themselves. Tory, no surprise, seems thrilled to be with her Toaster brothers and sisters, but Tigh, Anders, and Chief have been more conflicted, and their changing relationship with the Fleet will be a major development when the show returns in '09. Sigh. We’ll know who the next president and World Series champions are before we learn the last frakin’ Cylon. —Tim Grierson

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 8:30 pm

Effects guru Stan Winston dies at 62

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 16 Jun 2008 | 8:20 pm

Silver Jews Get a Little Wacky — and Yet More Charming

Silver Jews’ scatterbrained auteur David Berman has always been — despite his music’s dark overtones — one for a laugh. But this album is something new: There’s the tongue-in-cheek lament “Suffering Jukebox,” bouncy perseverance anthem “Strange Victory, Strange Defeat,” even an oddball jam in “Party Barge.” Now in his forties, Berman seems, dare we say, at peace. And it’s to our benefit: Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea is more than a calm, joyous affair — it’s a triumph.

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 8:15 pm

Earnest Sewn to Open Hamptons Outpost

This Thursday boutique denim brand Earnest Sewn opens its Southampton summer outpost. It boards the bandwagon with Rugby East, Screaming Mimi’s, and Mulberry, who are all opening in the land where Brooks Brothers shall no longer rule this summer. The Earnest Sewn shop will feature the newly launched Earnest AM I and AEC&S collections, along with Lit’l Earnie jeans for kids. But we’re most excited about the exclusive outlet store in the back, where you’ll find previous Earnest Sewn collections at discounted prices. Affordable and the Hamptons aren't foes after all! The 1,300-square-foot interior is similar to the outdoorsy feel of Earnest's Lower East Side and meatpacking-district locations, with dark-wood shelving artifacts from the early 1900s strewn artfully about. Apart from stacks of denim, the Southampton outpost is going to stock hostess gift items like Santa Maria Novella fragrances and D.L. & Co. candles. It will also offer Jitney essentials, like Birdwell surf bags, Havaianas flip-flops, art books from Phaidon, and Filson luggage. — Lauren Murrow

Earnest Sewn, 53c Jobs Ln., nr. Main St., Southampton, N.Y.; 631-283-6906

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 8:10 pm

R.E.M.’s Mike Mills on ‘Accelerate,’ Obama, and His New Life As a Heterosexual

The recent R.E.M narrative has gone like this: Accelerate, their most recent album — good. Around the Sun, Reveal, and Up, their last three albums — bad. Band bassist Mike Mills thinks this is lazy journalism, and he wasn't exactly thrilled when some reporters took Michael Stipe's comments in a recent Spin interview to mean he'd finally come out of the closet. (He's been out for years. Sheesh.) So, in response, the band announced via YouTube that Mills and guitarist Peter Buck were finally coming out too … as straight. On the eve of R.E.M.'s show at Madison Square Garden this Thursday, Mills spoke with Vulture about these and other catastrophes.

Congratulations on coming out as heterosexual!
I know, it's a long time coming.

Did you help Michael Stipe put the video together?
Actually, a friend of mine suggested it to me after [Stipe] was outed yet again. She said, "When are you and Peter being outed as hetero?" And I thought that was a great idea, so I went to Michael and he thought it was a great idea.

You've talked in other interviews about "revisionist history" about the band's old albums…
There's just this theme that's been adopted by so many lazy writers that the last three records sucked, and now [the band] doesn't suck anymore. That's just very lazy journalism and absolutely incorrect.

After your last album, which many thought didn't sell as well as it should've, Peter Buck was quoted as saying: "Even Michael [Stipe] was going, 'Y'know, if we make another bad record, it's over.' It's like, 'No kidding.'" Did you feel the same way?
Well, I don't think Around the Sun is a bad record. I think our problem was that we weren’t focused, that we weren't all on the same page. We were pulling in different directions. And that's kind of pointless. It makes it very difficult to make a good record.

Why were you pulling in different directions?
It happens. Any long-term relationship has ups and downs, and you just have to maintain communications, and some times that’s easier than others.

What helped make that relationship stronger this go-round?
It's a collective decision. You just have to sit down and go, "If we're going to do this, we have to do it in the right way." And that's what we did. We all realized that we need to be pulling in the same direction, and once we decided that, it was pretty simple.

Do you guys plan to be very active in campaigning for Obama?
I'm sure we will as individuals. We haven't yet decided what, if anything, we'll be doing as a band.

Nothing like the "Vote for Change" tour?
No, nothing like "Vote for Change." You don't want to do that every single election, or it won't have any impact. It will lose its power.

Do you thinks actors and musicians really help politicians, or do you think there's a chance they sometimes hurt them?
I think anybody's endorsement is probably going to be mostly helpful. I think that actors and musicians and entertainers and truck drivers and dentists and housewives and everybody in this world should speak up and endorse people. I think it's everyone's civic opportunity to stand up and say what they think, and to tell people they're not allowed to do that is very anti-democratic.

I'm asking more from a strategic standpoint. George Clooney said something recently like he hasn’t been doing a lot of campaigning, because he thinks it does more harm than good.
Yeah. There comes a point at which it's too much. There's nothing wrong with speaking your mind, but at some point it begins to sound like you're preaching, and people have a limit on how much celebrity endorsement they can take. So you just have to be smart about how much you say, and when and where you say it. —Ben Westhoff

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 8:00 pm

No One Turns Up to the ‘Gossip Girl’ Casting

This Saturday in Southampton was a bit more fabulous than usual — oh God, you don't even know why, do you? Perhaps your headbands are on a little too tight today, so let us remind you: It was the casting call for Gossip Girl, HELLO?! Obviously we wouldn't be worth half an Activa if we didn't haul ourselves out there for a shot at glory (or to get within spitting distance of Chuck Bass), so to Pink Elephant we went for the 1 p.m. call time. We were told to come "dressed upscale and camera ready," which had us a little nervous as to whether we'd be up to the competition — but then … there wasn't any. The massive line of Gucci-clad teenage girls never materialized. Instead, the line maxed out at just four people (including us) and none of us were teenagers. We were amazed. How could only four people want to be on the BEST SHOW EVER? Among the faithful: Us; a woman came dressed as Blair, which reflected, we thought, the appropriate level of dedication; and a guy who looked like Julian MacMahon but wasn't. “You have to be a serious fan to trek out here for this," he said, with not a little pride.

Central casting took our picture and provided some little details: They were casting for an “old-money, glamorous, White Party” in the Hamptons, and were looking for people with “upscale looks and wardrobes … Upper East Side high society, conservative prep-school teenagers, elegant bourgeoisie.” But by late in the afternoon, it looked like this would be one party none of the cool kids were planning on showing up to. "Come back later," the Pink Elephant publicist urged the dejected casting director. "There'll be wall-to-wall models." Eventually, we got over feeling like Carrie at the prom and even chipped in our two cents: Maybe you should go to, like, Intermix or something? we said. And off they went, flyers in hand, fingers crossed. —Lauren Le Vine

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 16 Jun 2008 | 8:00 pm

Naomi Campbell Settles Another Housekeeper Abuse Case

Naomi Campbell has been pretty lucky when it comes to allegations of mistreatment by her staff. She just settled the eighth such case out of court, paying her former Slovakian housekeeper Ivana Lovas thousands of pounds. This way, she avoids what could have been quite an embarrassing public hearing. Lovas said Campbell racially and sexually discriminated against her and didn't even pay her. The Mirror reports:

It had been alleged that when Ivana threatened to leave her job, Campbell screamed: "You can't afford to leave me. You're married and you've got a kid. I'll sue you if you do."

…Mrs. Lovas claimed she constantly criticised the way she spoke, telling her: "You don't even speak English."

But here's the really twisted part of the story: Lovas's husband, Gabriel, got her the job. He's a celebrity photographer who got to know Campbell on private boats in Saint-Tropez. Apparently homeboy chose to ignore the seven previous allegations of abuse by her staff, quite often with airborne BlackBerrys. We don't know much about love, but we do know that ain't it.

Considering Lovas also signed a gagging order, we feel like she should've squeezed a bit more cash out of Campbell, what with no book or tabloid deals in the works. We wonder if Campbell will get off so easily when her British Airways trial starts. Maybe being so hot works more wonders than we thought.

Naomi Campbell pays out thousands to housekeeper [Mirror]

Related: Breaking: Naomi Campbell Charged With Assault!

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 7:20 pm

Billy Joel Goes Hog Wild

Billy Joel was spotted pulling into the new Surf Shack in Napeague with six other Harley-riding pals. The big billboard over County Road 39 reading "Slow Down, or You Will Be Shot; 35 Miles Per Hour Speed Limit Vigorously Enforced" is being taken down after complaints from outraged locals, who either didn’t get or didn’t appreciate the reference to the speed-radar gun. The Rude Hamptons nearly throws down with someone at the gas pump. State legislation is tossing East Hampton Town a $15 million life preserver by introducing a bill allowing the town to borrow up to $15 mil to pay off its deficit, estimated at $10 million. Something called the “Inter-Tribal Historic Preservation Task Force” rallied together at Shinnecock high school to heighten public awareness regarding the preservation of sacred Indian grounds. Celebrity shutterbug Patrick McMullan gamely plays along in this mockumentary trailer about "Trever," a powerful Hamptons doorman who gets blacklisted from society. Meanwhile, McMullan's son, Liam (he of the sex-induced migraines), is recording a dance album and will perform the songs live in the Hamptons this summer. The slow real-estate market on the East End has increased the supply of vacation rentals, as more sellers take their homes off the market and offer them for rent instead. And finally, make your vote count in the PlumTV lobster-roll poll. —Noelle Hancock

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 16 Jun 2008 | 7:15 pm

Hell Yeah! Iron Maiden Blow the Fuses at Madison Square Garden

"Who's gonna help me see Eddie tonight?" a guy outside Iron Maiden's Sunday Madison Square Garden show asked, holding up a finger in a plaintive echo of the Deadhead-style plea for "one miracle," i.e., a lone ticket. This dude spoke not of the band's singer, who also happens to be the pilot of their jet — that would be Bruce, last name Dickinson. The fan was referring to Edward the Head, the near-faceless wraith who has served as Maiden's mascot lo these 30-plus years. The arena-packing, Bud-guzzling audience — almost exclusively in black T-shirts — was here for the full Iron Maiden experience, songs to logo, and they got it. And they were more pumped by the warm-up music than most indie fans are by their favorite bands.

When Dickinson and company took the stage, they were accompanied by an orgy of flash pots, flamethrowers, black lights, smoke machines, and fireworks timed to the music. And that's to say nothing of the props, which included a kneeling, eight-foot-tall animatronic devil, Egyptian jackals with red glowing eyes, the aforementioned Eddie in a golden sarcophagus, a ten-foot-tall walking puppet with laser gun, and a massive, perhaps 40-foot-tall mummy that waved its arms and shot sparks out of its eyes. Even awesomer was the band's ecstatic, operatic, galloping metal, which proved such a force that it sucked up all the power in the Garden, killing the sound for something like fifteen minutes. (This, ironically, was most of the way through "Powerslave.") Almost instantly, the band was passing a soccer ball around stage. Eddie, one felt, was very much there in spirit. —Mishka Shubaly

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 7:15 pm

Amy Winehouse hospitalized after fainting

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 16 Jun 2008 | 7:08 pm

Sarah Larson Lands a Campaign!

When George Clooney breaks up with us, we'll drown our sorrows in cheap Champagne and the most expensive Puffs we can find. But not Sarah Larson! The girl is doing a good job of what you're supposed to do after a breakup: keeping busy and distracting herself. Her self-esteem-boosting activity of choice is modeling, natch. She'll star in Christian Audigier's new campaign, which she shot on Friday in L.A. Audigier told People, "She is a fresh, elegant, and classy girl. I saw her on a red carpet and liked her style and European look." So she must have absorbed a thing or two from her time spent on the Cloonster's compound in Lake Como.

The images from the campaign won't hit until later this month, but the dresses Larson models can be seen on Audigier's Website. They look, um, edgier than what the girl usually wears. We hope this confirms our suspicions that her inner bad girl is about to let loose.

Sarah Larson: The New Face of Christian Audigier [People]
Related: Even Without Clooney, Sarah Larson Climbs the Ladder

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 6:30 pm

Last-Minute Settlement in Seth Tobias Case

In the months following the drowning of hedge-fund manager Seth Tobias in his Palm Beach swimming pool, the stories of what exactly happened that night in September turned wild and sordid: His brothers alleged that his wife, Filomena "Phyllis" Tobias, killed her husband for his rumored $25 million fortune. Filomena's Internet psychic claimed that Seth was a cokehead who had frequent liaisons with male strippers and said that Filomena admitted to him that she had served her husband an Ambien-laced plate of pasta and coerced him into a pool with promises of sex with a male stripper called Tiger (so called because of the tiger-striped tattoos across his back) "We definitely had sex," said Tiger, for his part. "He may have talked about me with Filomena during his drug binges. I may have been the only guy he'd ever been with. He may have thought I was his boyfriend. She may have gotten jealous." At one point, another psychic called Madam Simbi M'Arue came forward and said Filomena had paid her to put a curse on Tobias.

It was, to say the least, an undignified end for the frequent CNBC commentator.

But for the rest of us, it was pretty entertaining. And the trial, which was due to start today, promised to be even more entertaining. Which is probably why this past weekend, Filomena, who was never actually charged with a crime, agreed to settle, giving Seth's brothers an undisclosed chunk of his fortune—as long as they promised to take back all the mean things they'd said.

"A full retraction," was the way sister Nancy Antoloni described the settlement.

Though we certainly understand Filomena's desire to make this whole thing go away, we're not so sure this is the smartest idea: Labels like "drug-addled crazy alleged murderess" have a way of sticking, we hear.

Seth Tobias' brothers drop claims that widow killed him [Palm Beach Post
Related: Dead Man’s Float [NYM]

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 16 Jun 2008 | 6:30 pm

The ‘Times’ Brings the Bitchitude (Sort of) in New Etiquette Column

This past weekend the Times "Style" section unveiled its new etiquette advice column, “Social Q’s.” In its debut, the column took on everything from tennis bullies to a boss’ guerilla pedicure tactics to people who invite gays to dinner parties only to tell them how wrong gay marriage is. The answers are cute, smart, and a little bit bitchy. Social Q’s — it’s just like us! We especially like the sharp admonishment of a gentile who met her boyfriend on JDate posing as a Jew and still hasn’t gotten up the courage to tell him she’s not a member of the tribe. The advice columnist lightly bitch-slaps:

Remember, you’ll be one short step away from “freak show” when you finally come clean, and you still must convince him that the lie was an aberration. He may be furious, or decide you’re too manipulative to date, but there’s a chance he’ll be flattered by the lengths you went to win him over.

Sassy! But who is our feisty new advice columnist, Philip Galanes? According to our extensive research (translation: plugging his name into the Times' search engine), our Galanes has been quoted in the Gray Lady quite a bit over the years. He wrote a few small articles back in 1985 but, most recently, has found himself on the other side of the paper. The NYT has profiled Galanes and his partner no less than three times: once in 2000 when they were renovating their apartment, then in 2004 when the paper followed their search for an East Hampton love nest, and again in January about the 1890s townhouse they just finished remodeling. He was also quoted in the 2004 article “The Age of Dissonance; Gay Marriage? How Straight.” So what advice did he give to the homosexual at the anti-gay-marriage dinner party? He told him to take the high road.

You may be annoyed for the rest of the evening, but the ability to differ in a civilized way speaks volumes to your character. Plus, there are so many excellent cleaning products on the market these days that spilling your boeuf bourguignon all over his sofa won’t leave permanent stains anyway.

See, we knew we liked him. —Noelle Hancock

Social Q's [NYT]

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 16 Jun 2008 | 5:40 pm

Britain Honors Anna Wintour With a Fancy New Title

Each year on the first, second, or third Saturday in June, Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her official birthday. Obviously, this is different than her real birthday; it's really just a day of general official-ness on which England has a parade and honors people other than the Queen. The honorees are listed on an official "birthday honors list." They are ranked, with the highest honorees receiving knighthood. This year's list of 959 honored people includes Anna Wintour, who is being named an Officer of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, or OBE. She won for "services to British journalism and British fashion in the USA." (Do recall she edited British Vogue from 1986 to 1987, before American Vogue.) Thus now she's got a new highly prestigious title and ranks in the fourth tier of the five-tiered honoree system. Yes, that's like being seated in the fourth row, but we doubt Anna's complaining. So she's not a dame just yet — but hey, there's always next year! Besides, she was always Most Excellent in our hearts. And isn't that what really counts?

Wintour's Birthday Treat [British Vogue]
Queens Birthday Honours List 2008 [Net News Publisher]

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 5:40 pm

Stars stay classy in glam gowns at Tony Awards (AP)

AP - It was a fashion disaster-free night at Sunday's Tony Awards, even though one actress lost her Chanel the night before.

Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 16 Jun 2008 | 5:32 pm

Michael Stipe to Unveil Sculptures at New Rogan Store

Rogan is breaking in its new digs on 330 Bowery and will fête the opening later this month with an exhibit of objects created by R.E.M. front man Michael Stipe. An inspiration to designer Rogan Gregory, Stipe has created a collection of bronze relics that will be displayed exclusively in the store for one month this summer. The objects Stipe "immortalized" in bronze include various cameras like the Diana and Polaroid, a cassette tape, and a clock radio. Stipe explains:

"The radio alarm clock … changed forever the fragile state between sleeping and waking, allowing you to wake to your favorite radio station … The polaroid [one shot and sx70] revolutionized photography by providing instant images available to anyone … Cassettes provided portable, compact music, altering forever the influence of radio as the individual became their own disc jockey."

The items are for display only, and a special event unveiling the exhibit will take place on June 26. It will open to the public on June 27. Rogan is also making two limited-edition shirts to commemorate the event, including a Rogan-versus-Stipe button-down shirt for $380 and T-shirt for $220, available exclusively at the new store.

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 4:45 pm

Jonas Bros Rule Everything But Bedroom

The brothers are committed to teen idol stardom -- and chastity.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 16 Jun 2008 | 4:40 pm

It Ain't Over Till the Skinny Lady Sings

Opera diva Deborah Voigt drops more than 100 pounds to win back her role.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 16 Jun 2008 | 4:32 pm

Harry Potter’s Emma Watson Scores $6 Million Chanel Campaign

Emma Watson, the 18-year-old actress who plays Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, is keeping it wholesome in her burgeoning adulthood. Rather than running into nightclub bathrooms with her four closest friends at this tender age, Watson has reportedly signed a two-year $6 million contract with Chanel to be the face of its Coco Mademoiselle fragrance. Because going from Harry Potter to Chanel is such a natural progression. Enhancing the whoa factor of it all, Watson will replace Keira Knightley, who has starred in the perfume's campaign for the past two years.

Watson is signed with Storm modeling agency in London, which is thought to have scored the deal. Chanel is supposedly creating another role for Knightley.

Now we know what Karl Lagerfeld watches when he actually stays in on a Tuesday night.

Emma Watson, Harry Potter actress, is new face of Chanel fragrance [Telegraph]

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 16 Jun 2008 | 3:55 pm

Pop Tarts: Kellie Pickler 'Blessed' to Have Been Abandoned

After winning the hearts of "American Idol" audiences, Kellie Pickler enhanced her female assets. But the country crooner says there's more behind her success than her appearance.
Source: FOXNews.com | 16 Jun 2008 | 3:23 pm

Did Snoop's Wife Drive With Gin and Juice?

No one else was in car when rapper Snoop Dogg's wife was arrested.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 16 Jun 2008 | 3:21 pm

Rome Diocese Bans Filming of 'Angels & Demons' in Churches

Rome's diocese said Monday it has barred the producers of "Angels & Demons" from filming in two churches for the prequel to the "The Da Vinci Code," the popular book and film that angered many Catholic leaders.
Source: FOXNews.com | 16 Jun 2008 | 3:15 pm

'Hulk' actor: 'It's not a party'

William Hurt likes to mix it up -- which is one reason he took the role as Gen. Thaddeus Ross in "The Incredible Hulk." CNN talked to Hurt about the new "Hulk," as well as the actor's approach to his job. (And for Hurt, it is a job.)

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 16 Jun 2008 | 3:11 pm

Kanye Keeps Fans Waiting for Hours

Angry Bonnaroo goers responded by pelting the stage with glow sticks.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 16 Jun 2008 | 2:46 pm

Rome diocese bans 'Angels & Demons' filming

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 16 Jun 2008 | 2:42 pm

Why Do Stars Sabotage Their Own Work?

Katherine Heigl and Edward Norton have both bashed their projects and H'Wood.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 16 Jun 2008 | 2:21 pm

FOX411: Al Pacino, Diane Keaton in Backstage Soap Opera

How did Al Pacino and Diane Keaton even exist together for a minute backstage at the AFI Tribute to Warren Beatty in Hollywood on Thursday night?
Source: FOXNews.com | 16 Jun 2008 | 2:13 pm

Report: Kate Beckinsale Demands Body Double for Nude Scene

Actress Kate Beckinsale has demanded a body double for her latest film because she "loathes" her behind, Britain's Daily Mail reports.
Source: FOXNews.com | 16 Jun 2008 | 1:33 pm

Music Review: Coldplay's melodic `Viva La Vida' (AP)

AP - Coldplay, "Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends" (Capitol Records)
Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 16 Jun 2008 | 11:20 am