Now: This week’s final recap recap has a special guest! Chris and Jessica had the extreme pleasure of meeting Dorota (Her real name is Zuzanna Szadkowski, but they insisted on calling her Dorota in person so as not to break the fourth wall) at the Ultimate Gossip Girl Summit a couple of weeks ago, and she was kind enough to weigh in on this week’s tally in an e-mail this week. (An e-mail! To us!)

btw … regarding last Monday's GG, Plus 5 for that awesome way Blair claps her hands to separate Beta Bass and New Blair like they were misbehaved house pets. Comic genius.

Realer Than Dan’s Awkward Dance Moves
• Plus 1 for Serena's "Can't she just vote?" in reference to Lexi's salacious ways. Wow, they actually gave her a decent line for once. —BlairBass1
• Plus 4 because Chuck plays the piano. Yet another reason to adore him. —BlairBass1
• Plus 2 for Nate, having "done the right thing" with his dad, now being determined to "do the right thing" all over the place. His "moral compass" cred among the high schoolers is currently such that when Nate says you've screwed up, you feel that you really must have screwed up. —PurpleandGreen
• PLUS 10! ******THAT NECKLACE BLAIR WEARS IS THE NECKLACE CHUCK BOUGHT BLAIR FOR HER 17TH BIRTHDAY IN SEASON ONE!********* IT IS THE NECKLACE SHE PUT ON HOLD THAT CHUCK BOUGHT HER WHEN NATE DITCHED BLAIR TO GO FOR A WALK WITH FUGLY J!!!
THE NECKLACE SHE WORE WHEN CHUCK PLUMBED HER DEPTHS!!!!!! PLUS 10!!!!!!!” —val4372 [Thank you!!!]
• Plus 20 for this entire exchange:
Jenny: "What's wrong, Vanessa, are you that desperate?!"
Vanessa: Why what's wrong Jenny, are you that jealous?!
Jenny: "Oh My God!!!" —poshspice
• Plus 5 because Bart's meeting in Miami coincided with Art Basel, which I'm sure he planned so as to pick up a new Maplethorpe for Lily to make up for his bad behavior. —UWSer
• Plus 5 for: Dorota: “do you think I want to be shining Chuck Bass’ shoes” and Blair saying: “you’re lucky if that’s all your shining”…I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT ITS STILL AMAZING.” —noeffinway
• This is a bit of an aside, but MTV keeps stealing all of Josh Schwartz shows. First with the O.C. which they turned into "Laguna Beach the Real Orange County". Now they are doing it to Gossip Girl with the "City", in the trailer it they say "its not gossip, its real". I prefer to believe that Gossip Girl is real, Chuck and Blair are real and the "City" is just a scripted "reality" series.” —eclare21

Faker Than a Married UES-er Jumping Ship on Her Marriage Easier Than Her Daughter Does With Her High School Boyfriend
• Bart told Lily he was done with the PI, but didn't think to tell his receptionist to lie that he had a meeting with said PI? You don't build an empire on silly mistakes like that. Minus 2. —martell
• A potential future minus 5, because, in stealing from his numerous OC plotlines, if Kiki (I mean Lily)'s secret is that Eric is really Rufus's son (which someone commented on during the last episode and I now really believe), Serena and Dan will end up being weirdly related as Ryan and Marissa were when Julie Cooper married Caleb and it's time to get GG out of an OC parallel universe. —LittleJ
• Minus 2 for Serena's boobs as a major character. Enough. Just, enough already. It's winter! Buy a friggin sweater. —MagnoliaCake22
• Nate's little speech to Lil J about not being who he though she was...WTF? She's 15 and acting like a 15 year old. Nate should be more appalled that Vanessa, the older & more mature one, stooped to the level of a 15 year old by stealing mail - a federal offense BTW. Minus 1. —I_m_Blair_Blair_is_me
• I thought Blair was repulsed by Aaron? She can't believe that Serena hasn't slept with him yet because "What are you waiting for? He's HOT!" In the last episode she was mocking his nasty "scruff". Minus 5. —ChuckLove
• dan says the best memories of his past two years have been at these high society social events. really? which memory was the best, dan? was it when chuck bass tried to rape your sister at the kiss on the lips party? or was it when you got into a fist fight with chuck bass at the brunch at blair’s house? or was it when serena and you broke up at lily and bart’s wedding? or was it when your sister through a rogue fashion show and ruined lily and bart’s gala? or was it when someone dumped vitamin water all over grandpa van der woodsen’s white suit you were wearing over the summer at the vitamin water white party? which happy memory exactly were you reffering to? MINUS 5 —NineDaves
• No mention of Blair's future stepdad the entire episode? Inconceivable! Minus 10 —sarcasticmeow
• “You guys are spot on about this episode being "off" !! But doesn't that deserve some subtractage? For screwing with our suspension of disbelief, at the very least.
I know it's GG, but still....
-10 for letting the interns film this episode
-10 for letting them write it” —claireOceana [Hey! Guess who’s writing this post? Wait… does Gossip Girl really have interns?]
• Lily: Tell me something Rufus. Something you shouldn't.
For Christs sake the man already told you last season that he shouldn't have let you let him go, what more do you want? I'm so over it. —twinsfindme [Minus 1]

Read more posts by Mike Vilensky

Filed Under: gossip girl, The Greatest Show of Our Time

Week in Review: Ups and Downs, Highs and Lows

In the immortal words of Heidi Klum, "You're either in, or you're out." This week saw a lot of both.

You're In!
• Hearty congrats go out to Slumdog Millionaire and Frozen River, both of which were honored as the Best Film of 2008 this week (by the National Board of Review and Gotham Awards, respectively).
• Nostalgia lovers, rejoice! Just this week alone, reboots of Full House, Arthur, Romancing the Stone, and They Live! all made headlines (and chances are looking good for Veronica Mars, too!).
• Seth MacFarlane was appointed the Smartest Person on TV by Entertainment Weekly. We're still a little unclear on that one, but good for him!
• Everybody loves to be honored by a jury of his peers. So, if you found yourself admitted to Sundance or on the receiving end for a Grammy or an Independent Spirit Award, please take one step forward and give yourself a round of applause.
• It's tough to find anyone who liked Richard Nixon, but it wasn't too difficult to find our Top Ten Movie Nixons.
• Face it, if you're in Miami checking out this year's incarnation of Art Basel, that immediately puts you on the "In" list.
• After a valiant call to arms to his nation of disciples, Stephen Colbert managed to complete the nearly impossible task of selling more records than Kanye West.
• Is there anything Clint Eastwood can't do? If you answered "sing," well, then you'd be wrong!

You're Out!
• Knight Rider is headed off to the great scrap heap in the sky.
• The Great White Way will soon be losing Grease and Boeing Boeing.
• Not only did Tina Fey find herself ignominiously coming in second to Seth MacFarlane, but Barbara Walters managed to find and air video of her from her pre-makeover days. Also, the origins of her mysterious scar are no longer mysterious.
• Guns N' Roses finally released Chinese Democracy, but no one actually bought it.
• Jonathan Safran Foer got dissed, literary style, by Anya Ulinich.
• Valkyrie doesn't even seem to be trying to get any Oscar nominations these days.
• Ellen Page was denied admission to AMPAS.
• And, last, we here at Vulture felt the sting of rejection when Paramount told us they weren't in favor of our script treatment for Beverly Hills Cop IV.

And with that, we'll see you on Monday!

Read more posts by Mark Graham

Filed Under: Roll Credits

The Wall Street Journal Attempts a Fashion Spread

The Wall Street Journal's new quarterly luxury magazine's winter issue is out. This means we can begin to answer the burning question, Can the Journal pull off a fashion spread? This one's titled "Party Flavors. Long frocks, tuxedos, fanciful hair accessories, and balloon dogs. It must be the festive season." Great fashion spreads come infused with deeper meanings, and we think we detect one here — long frocks and tuxedos? Could that translate to the inaugural balls? As in subliminal suggestions for what the Obamas should wear on their big night? Because Michelle should most definitely wear a mask and the military jacket on the left. And who needs a real puppy when you can have balloon animals? And soap bubbles! The kids will not be able to contain themselves.

Photo: Koto Bolofo for WSJ.

Ah, casual strolling-with-the-geese outfits. We can't even recall seeing Chuck Bass in socks like those red ones on the left — this model is fashion-forward and excellent at smiling with his eyes. We'll give his partner a get-out-of-eye-smiling-free card since she only has one eye available. So, can The Wall Street Journal pull off a fashion spread? We'll answer that question with another question: Can Tyra Banks save society from itself?

Party Flavors [WSJ.]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: first looks, wall street journal

NBC's Jimmy Fallon Experiment Starting Really Soon

The egos of 2 men drive the thrills in 'Dust' (AP)

AP - When a play is titled "Dust," you can expect the metaphors to fly thick and fast.

Best Of The BWE: We Got Your Back

• On Cyber Monday, Michelle asked us to share your Black Friday shopping stories.
• Dan wondered if McDonald's stole their Nuggnuts campaign from Mad Men - he's expecting his Pulitzer any day now.
• Michelle shared with us true animal viral video perfection: a walrus playing a tiny saxophone. Roomba cat is so freakin' lame.
• Heidi and Spencer's honeymoon photos are proof that their love is real.
• Michelle discovered that Tim Gunn's dream of Manx has been realized by a company called Equmen. Men everywhere should give thanx! (Kill me.)
• Dan made it official: "Take It To The Limit" is one of the worst songs of all time.
• I shared my thoughts, hopes, and fears in regards to trailers for two new reality series on MTV: The City and Bromance. Pray for me.
• Dan noticed that Phil Spector tried to sway the jury with an Obama pin - whether he was trying to retroactively sway their vote for president, or for his acquittal, is unknown.
• If you haven't already watched Chris Dane Owens' music video, you are dead to me.

Source: Best Week Ever | 5 Dec 2008 | 11:00 pm

SAG leaders set member meetings

Front Page: Town Hall to discuss strike authorization vote -- With SAG's strike authorization vote in the spotlight, guild leaders have scheduled a pair of meetings to update members, publicists and managers.




Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 5 Dec 2008 | 10:54 pm

Sofia Coppola Reveals the Bags She Designed for Louis Vuitton




Sofia Coppola decided she should design a line of bags for Louis Vuitton when she visited the Vuitton's custom-orders department at its factory in Asnières, France. “To start with I wanted to make a bag for myself and then we talked about making a little capsule collection,” she said. “My friends and I are always searching for the perfect day bag.” You see what she came up with. They certainly will, uh, stand out among Vuitton's other fabulous collaborations. [WWD]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: capsule collections, collaboration station, handbags, louis vuitton, sofia coppola





Source: The Cut | 5 Dec 2008 | 10:50 pm

Tabloids, Newspapers, Blogs Tell Employees to Freak Off





• OK! is saying "freak it" and only publishing double issues over the traditionally ad-slow winter months. [NYP]

• The other day it was rumored that "a lot " of people at Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt would be losing their jobs. The Journal twisted some arms and got the more specific "at least several hundred." The company, which is owned by Irish private-equity firm Education Media & Publishing Group Ltd., has not yet confirmed or denied. [WSJ]


• Newsday is cutting 5 percent of its workforce, or around 27 positions. "Travel, entertainment and supply budgets have been reduced," editor John Mancini wrote in an e-mail to staff. "Open positions have been eliminated and the freelance budget has been cut dramatically." [NYO]

• NBC layoffs have spread to the Washington bureau; around seven people have been Auf'd, including reporter Kevin Corke, who blogged about it on Facebook: "Kevin just got laid off! So why is he still smiling?" We don't know, but we're glad he is. Smile, Kevin. Smile for everyone. [TVNewser/Mediabistro]


Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: media deathwatch














Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: aaron rose, aaron young, giambattista valli, joy bryant, justin bond, lauren hutton, margherita missoni, melissa bent, nonsense, stella schnabel, tinsley mortimer, v, zac posen






Source: The Cut | 5 Dec 2008 | 10:16 pm

A.R. Rahman Slums It With M.I.A.




Unless you're obsessed with Bollywood (or you're a regular reader of this very blog), chances are that your iPod isn't loaded up with A.R. Rahman tunes. But even without your help, he's managed to sell more than 200 million albums in his sixteen-year career — approximately as many as Madonna has in twice as long. But here in the States, he takes second billing on this ominously driving song from his soundtrack to Slumdog Millionaire, after his moderately popular collaborator, some musician named M.I.A. No matter how well you know their names, though, the pair are a great choice for the film; Rahman's protean ability to compose any style of music meshes well with M.I.A.'s own eclectic tastes, creating a track that feels as at-home on the subway as it does on the subcontinent.

Earlier: Composer A.R. Rahman on the Sounds of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and Being M.I.A.’s Idol

Read more posts by Ehren Gresehover

Filed Under: a.r. rahman, m.i.a., music, slumdog millionaire







• "Merrill brokers have teasingly mocked the "spirit points" that Bank of America managers dole out as an employee rewards. The points can be redeemed for golf clubs, televisions and such." Ha, they use coupons?!?! Hicks.


• Greg Donaldson, a Bank of America shareholder and director of portfolio strategy at Donaldson Capital Management in Evansville, Indiana, is skeptical about everyone getting along. "The bankers all think the brokers are too highly paid and the brokers all think the bankers don’t work hard enough,” he told Bloomberg.

• But what's really got everyone worked up is the cost-cutting that will ensue when the merger goes through in 2009. On Wednesday, Ken Lewis told the Charlotte Observer that they were in the “final stage of our analysis” for planned job reductions and that the ax would likely fall after the holidays. They'd like to cut $7 billion, or 10 percent of the combined company's annual expenses, over the next few years, Lewis said; CNBC estimates that about 30,000 heads will roll in the new year.

• The Times suggests that it could be even uglier. "Workers at the soon-to-be-united Bank of America and Merrill are probably hoping that Mr. Lewis doesn’t take a page from Citi’s playbook," they say. If he does, they estimate up to 65,000 people could be cut from the roster.

• And once they get under the covers, Bank of America could be in for a nasty surprise. “There are some hand grenades on the balance sheet that are going to blow up on Bank of America,” said James Ellman, a former Merrill Lynch money manger who is now president of San Francisco–based SeaCliff Capital LLC. “The cost savings are going to be nowhere near what they’ve already promised.”

• Win Smith, the son of one of the founders of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, who approved of the merger, was the grimmest of all. In his toast at the shareholder's meeting this morning, he spoke not as though he were gaining a son but as though he were losing a daughter. In fact, he didn't even really call it a toast, but a 'eulogy':

Today did not have to come … Today is not the result of the subprime mess or synthetic CDOs. They are the symptoms. This is the story of failed leadership and the failure of a Board of Directors to understand what was happening to this great company, and its failure to take action soon enough.




I stand here today and say shame to both the current as well as the former Directors who allowed this former CEO to wreak havoc on this great company. Shame on them for allowing this former CEO to consciously and openly disparage Mother Merrill, throw our founding principles down a flight of stairs and tear out the soul of the firm.


Well. That's a tough act to follow. Mazel tov, you crazy kids! Where are you registered? Maybe we'll get you some steak knives, so you don't have to tear out any souls with your bare hands.




Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: vows






Source: Daily Intel | 5 Dec 2008 | 9:47 pm

Finally: John Stamos Organizing a Full House Reboot




Just when you thought that all the world's great ideas had already been thought of, something like this happens: Perpetual hunk John Stamos is reportedly in talks to reunite "at least some of the cast" of beloved terrible nineties show Full House for a "semi-remake." According to erstwhile D.J. Tanner player Candace Cameron Bure, "It would involve me and Jodie ["Stephanie Tanner"] Sweetin. We would revive our characters, but today as young women." Presumably Full House Redux would star everybody from the original show minus the Olsen twins, who are now too famous, and Lori Laughlin, who's currently tied up in another TV reboot. We just hope the Beach Boys drop by again too.

Stamos Plans Full House Remake [SFGate via Buzzfeed]

Read more posts by Lane Brown

Filed Under: awfulsome, full house, john stamos, tv






Source: Vulture | 5 Dec 2008 | 9:45 pm

Dead Snow: Norwegian Movie About Nazi Zombies

You may have heard mutterings about Dead Snow previously, but now there is a trailer and it's official: this movie is going to rule. It hails from Norway and will premiere at Sundance next year. It looks fun/funny (Shaun-of -The-Dead-esque!), well made, and delightfully gory. At about the 1:22 mark, I peed my pants a little. EIN. ZWEI. DIE!






• Furthering their effort to garner publicity with celebrity-shilled fragrances, Avon signed Courteney Cox as the new face of Spotlight. Compelling choice. (But, you know, not really.) [WWD]

• Abbey Lee stars in the new fragrance ads for Gucci's new Flora scent, which includes notes of citrus, peony, rose, and osmanthus. [WWD]

• Faith Hill is developing a fragrance with Coty, which also developed her husband Tim McGraw's scent. Department-store fragrance shelves, prepare for battle. [WWD]

SKIN
• Tom Ford makes $18 soap on a rope with the scent of Tom Ford for Men. (Insert your own jail-related joke here.) [Haute Concept]

• A study says that more women would rather look ten years younger than lose ten pounds. No, accepting oneself is not an option. [UPI]


Read more posts by Sharon Clott

Filed Under: abbey lee, beauty marks, courteney cox, faith hill, fragrance, frida giannini, gucci, hair, skin, tim mcgraw, tom ford








Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 5 Dec 2008 | 9:35 pm

Nick Denton Explains How to Correctly Blog




From an internal e-mail sent to perma-frightened Gawker editors earlier this week, we learn that we've been doing it all wrong: "You know how the best story angles often spring from that thought you have on reading an article or watching a show — that thought you have before the responsible journalist in you comes up with something boring. I usually recommend people get in touch with their deep 'reptilian brain.' For instance, the reptilian reaction to the sight of yesterday's Obama announcement: doesn't Hillary look dwarfed by the podium? Ryan Tate came up with a better expression. You have to catch the 'brain-stem' reaction. It's hard to do. Alcohol or some other kind of relaxant can help."

Read more posts by Jessica Coen

Filed Under: creative underclass, gawker, nick denton






Source: Daily Intel | 5 Dec 2008 | 9:31 pm

SIMI-LEBRITIES: I’m a C3PO Motherf**ker



Read more posts by Emma Pearse

Filed Under: art, art candy






Source: Vulture | 5 Dec 2008 | 9:15 pm

Unfortunately Timed Standard Hotel Opens Next Week




If, like us, you feel like you're overdue for an extravagant staycation (it's what the rich do when they're suddenly less rich), the New York outpost of the Standard Hotel is opening for previews next week with select rooms for "friends and family." While we're excited to see a highly anticipated construction project come to fruition (as opposed to being left in some half-finished, glossy, postapocalyptic state for the duration of whatever it is we're facing here), the timing can't help but feel a little off to us, due in no small part to the constant stream of bad news including hearing that "things are going to get worse before they get worse." The Standard has always felt like a West Coast monument to all things silicone and lucite (granted, we may feel this way because of an unfortunate incident involving an appletini, a hanging bubble chair, and a bitch). It's just very early-aughts-MTV suddenly landing in the meatpacking district. Like Kelly Osbourne straddling our High Line and throwing dollar bills at us.

On the other hand, the preview rooms are only $195, which means guests like our parents will be able to stay there — and nothing's decadent or chic when you've got mom jeans swanning around the lobby.

The Standard to Open December 10 With Rooms for $195 [NewYorkology]

Read more posts by Jessica Coen

Filed Under: happy hostel-ing, meatpacking district, the greatest depression, the standard hotel






Source: Daily Intel | 5 Dec 2008 | 9:05 pm

Harry Winston Is $100 Million Worth of Jewelry Poorer


The poor store.

Yesterday evening in Paris a heist took place at the Harry Winston boutique. Four armed robbers stole about $101 million in jewels at the store in a matter of fifteen minutes. Making it all the more glam and movielike, two of the robbers were men disguised as women. This is how they pulled it off:

After they entered the store, the four thieves pulled out their weapons, forced the customers and employees — about 15 people in all — into a corner, and grabbed jewels out of display cases and safes, the prosecutor's office said. The robbers seemed to know the locations of secret hiding places for jewels and called some employees by their first names, it said.


Then they fled and no one knows how they left. We never thought the world needed an Ocean's 14, but in case it's coming and Hollywood needs inspiration (which it usually does), this is pretty good fodder. Brad Pitt and George Clooney bickering in drag? Men's Vogue will need two cover stories a year after all.

Robbers in drag steal $100M in jewel heist [CNN]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: harry winston, jewelry, poor stores






Source: The Cut | 5 Dec 2008 | 9:00 pm

I LIKE TO WATCH: Step Brothers In 60 Seconds

Surprisingly, 60 seconds is actually more than enough time to explain the entire plot of Step Brothers, but I'm glad enough of my friends also enjoyed this movie for me not to feel crazy for giggling at these clips probably more than a sane person should. Please watch and agree:


Source: Best Week Ever | 5 Dec 2008 | 9:00 pm

Nothing to Cheer About: Vanities Broadway Opening Delayed




Why even bother opening anymore when you know what's gonna happen? Playbill reports that the Broadway production of Vanities: A New Musical, which had been scheduled to open in February, has been delayed: "The three cheerleaders of Vanities , who lived through inflation and recession of the 1970s, are now victims of the 21st century economy." Oh, irony. [Playbill]

Read more posts by Lori Fradkin

Filed Under: broadwaypocalypse, sadness, theater, vanities






Source: Vulture | 5 Dec 2008 | 8:54 pm

WATCH: 'View': Is Sex a Big Deal?


Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 8:49 pm

There’s a ‘Gossip Girl’ Spinoff in the Works!


Will Grandma CeCe get her own show?

Variety today announced that a new Gossip Girl spinoff is in the works, but The CW offers precious few details other than that it's not based on Cecily von Ziegesar's Jenny-based spinoff, The It Girl. So what else can it be? Grandma CeCe, the Early Years? Dorota Explains It All? A reverse Rags to Riches in which the character of Nate Archibald is forced to work in an Alaskan cannery to support the love child he unwittingly created with the Duchess, communicated entirely through song? These are just off the top of our heads, but we'd watch any of them. As long as Aaron Rose isn't involved.

'Gossip Girl' Spinoff in Development [Variety]

Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: cecily von ziegesar, chace crawford, gossip girl, grandma cece, The Greatest Show of Our Time, the it girl






Source: Daily Intel | 5 Dec 2008 | 8:45 pm

Would a Lame Duck Throw Down Shocking Gang Signs Like This?

In a clear sign that President Bush feels extremely jealous of incoming Prez. Barack Obama, he decided to throw down the following gang sign while posing with members of the Arizona State University Men's and Women's Track Team. Which leads us to ask: Would a Lame Duck Throw Down Gang Signs Like This? The answer is, in fact, the Lamest Duck. The Graney and the Pig blog points out that not only is Bush possibly a "Crip", but he's also giving us "The Shocker."
Source: Best Week Ever | 5 Dec 2008 | 8:42 pm

Shia LaBeouf’s Smashed Hand Once Again Threatens Hollywood




With the Dow in free fall, an actors' strike looming, and the whole of the American moviegoing public currently out of work, this is probably not the news that profit-minded Hollywood moguls want to hear right now: Erratic-driving franchise topliner Shia LaBeouf has been forced to pull out of a movie because the hand he smashed in July's DUI mishap still isn't back to normal. LaBeouf will no longer star in Neal Burger's Dark Fields because his hand is "totally shattered, it's much worse than anyone thought," a source tells Fox News' Roger Friedman, who hears "the area around the thumb needs more surgery." No word yet on how this might affect the start date of 2011 blockbuster Mutt Williams and the Search for Elvis or Something.

Shia Quits Film Over Smashed Hand [Fox News]

Earlier: Hollywood’s Full Slate of Movie Franchises Imperiled by Shia LaBeouf's DUI Arrest
Shia LaBeouf’s Finger Saved by Quick-Thinking Publicist

Read more posts by Lane Brown

Filed Under: dark fields, movies, Mutt Williams and the Search for Elvis or Something, neal burger, shia labeouf






Source: Vulture | 5 Dec 2008 | 8:30 pm

New Shubert duo making safe bets

Front Page: Co-CEO's are steady act on Broadway -- With its Dec. 2 announcement that Philip J. Smith and Robert E. Wankel would become the new co-CEOs, the Shubert Organization signaled its embrace of stability in uncertain times.




Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 5 Dec 2008 | 8:30 pm

Michael Phelps, Please Stop Damaging Your Custom Armani Suit


Armani gets wet.

Let's turn our attention to sports for a moment, shall we? (Stay with us.) We're all big fans of Michael Phelps, the superhuman swimming machine who continues to tug at our heartstrings with his six-pack abs (yes, we counted) and compellingly adorable lisp. Therefore, it's no surprise to see the eight gold-medal winner grace the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year issue. But the behind-the-scenes video of the cover shoot with our beloved manfish has us doubled over cringing. First, he is clothed. Odd. Considering his previous three SI covers were shirtless, we expected perpetual partially nude Michael Phelps photos for years on end (and it's worth mentioning he was shirtless on the cover of GQ this month, which we've included after the jump). But even more important, Armani created a custom-made suit for the swimmer to wear, and it was … wet. Soaking, dripping, and dunked in chlorine-infused H20 all over. Gasp! How could our American hero act out such a cliché idea? Damage a custom-made Armani suit with chemicals, which will not only dull the color but weaken its cotton fibers as well? The Giorgio Armani store on Madison Avenue sells suits for up to $3,000, which means Phelps's now-damaged black-tie getup wasn't cheap. A much better idea would be for Speedo to make a tuxedo-style onesie for dear Michael to wear to all his fancy events and cover shoots. Then he'd really be onto something. Until then, check out what a "wet suit" really means, and click ahead.


Compare these covers — notice the difference?




Armani gets wet. GQ stays dry. What's your preference?Photo: Courtesy of Sports Illustrated and GQ

Sportsman of the Year: Michael Phelps [Sports Illustrated]
Behind The Scenes With Michael Phelps [Sports Illustrated]

Read more posts by Sharon Clott

Filed Under: armani, gq, michael phelps, tears of fashion






Source: The Cut | 5 Dec 2008 | 8:21 pm

Classic Facebook Pitfall May Destroy the State Department




The delicate rapprochement between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama demands a gentle touch, but maybe Obama's wunderkind speechwriter (yes, he has one), Jon Favreau, is going about it the wrong way. As eventually happens to all 27-year-olds, a photo of Favreau drunkenly groping someone made its way onto Facebook yesterday. Problem was, the grope took place on the right breast of a life-size Hillary Clinton cardboard cutout. Inappropriate! Favreau has reportedly called Clinton to deliver what we assume was a soaring, eloquent apology. [Trail/WP]

Read more posts by Dan Amira

Filed Under: barack obama, facebook, hillary clinton, jon favreau, politics






Source: Daily Intel | 5 Dec 2008 | 8:21 pm

GUESS THE NEW YORK POST HEADLINE: O.J. Sentenced To Fifteen Years Edition

O.J. Simpson is facing at least 15 years in prison for all that crap he did (or, well, some of it), which means it's time to play everyone's favorite game involving judgmental puns -- Guess! That! New! York! Post! Headline!!!!!!!!!!!! My suggestions: Juice Heading Back To The Cooler Oh Jail Simpson Juice-tice Is Served Simpson Running Back To The Slammer Simpson Stabbed In The Back By Justice System Hey Mom, Who Do You Have Going To Jail? Let's See, We Got Some Soda, Purple Stuff -- Hey, Grab The Sunny D! The Sunny D In This Example Is Juice, Meaning O.J. Simpson O.J. sentence Post headlines, people -- leave 'em in the comments!
Source: Best Week Ever | 5 Dec 2008 | 8:20 pm

Fred Hickman Highlights a Rather Embarrassing Week for ESPN


A rare photo: Fred Hickman, at work.

Remember Fred Hickman? The most devoted YES Network watchers might recall the competent yet unremarkable original studio host for Yankees (and Nets) pregame and postgame. It's unlikely that anyone else noticed when he left for ESPN in 2004.

But, as detailed by a ridiculously entertaining report in Deadspin this week, Hickman no longer works at ESPN, partly thanks to a series of strange incidents, but mostly because he missed more than 200 days of work in three years. Apparently, Hickman is a space cadet — liked by all, but still — who can’t get to work on time, calls in sick regularly, and never prepares for any of his segments. Two highlights from the story:

• "He would make up numerous illnesses both for himself and those close to him, including ex-wives, great aunts, etc. similar to a way that a college freshman would embellish family emergencies to get out of class. On at least one occasion when Hickman was supposedly out for a dire emergency, one of his colleagues spotted him getting a haircut."




• "SportsCenter anchor John Anderson still begins his top 10 plays segment by saying "Number 10...Fred." This is an inside joke done to pay homage to Hickman's tenure. The origins of it come from when one PA wrote out the top 10 play list by giving name indications on each play. Number 10, in this case, was given to Hickman and marked "Fred" on the prompter. Hickman, in turn, read "Number 10...Fred " on air.”


Deadspin reports that ESPN had heard about Hickman’s flakiness from CNN folks but chose to hire him anyway. Maybe he’ll come back to YES now. He sounds like our kind of anchor.

But the Hickman revelation was just one of a few embarrassments for ESPN this week. Perhaps even more entertaining was the brilliant Slate piece by Josh Levin that chronicled columnist Rick Reilly’s apparent obsession with references to teeth and dentistry — mostly one-liners like saying he’d “sooner floss crocodiles” than go skydiving. There’s even a dental-reference tag cloud!

And Sunday, on The Sports Reporters, John Saunders, Mike Lupica, and Bob Ryan were complaining — in unision at one point, apparently — about the way the BCS rankings are calculated. They brought up the Harris Poll (one of the human polls used to determine the standings), and singled out one voter in particular: Jerry Palm, who operates the Website CollegeBCS.com. Only one problem: Jerry Palm isn’t a voter. And thus, The Sports Reporters continues the long, slow journey to becoming Around the Horn: Sunday Edition.


Read more posts by Will Leitch and Joe DeLessio

Filed Under: espn, fred hickman, jerry palm, media, press-box confidential, rick reilly, slate, sports, the sports reporters






Source: Daily Intel | 5 Dec 2008 | 8:09 pm

Nobel Son’s Eliza Dushku on Dollhouse, Playing Crazy, and Pasties




Eliza Dushku has a piercing laugh that explodes in unadulterated burst. It's in no small part that sense of ineffable genuineness that helped make her character, Faith Lehane, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, a fan favorite. Dushku will be back on the small screen in short order; she's paired up with her Buffy boss Joss Whedon for the lead role in the sci-fi series Dollhouse, set to bow as a mid-season replacement on Fox in February. In the meantime, in Randall Miller's genre knuckleball Nobel Son, Dushku plays the fetchingly named City Hall, an artistically inclined gal who spells trouble for Bryan Greenberg's Ph.D. student after he becomes involved in a thorny kidnapping plot in the wake of his father's receiving the Nobel Prize. Just in advance of the ensemble film's release, Dushku spoke with Vulture about working with Joss Whedon and what she's willing to do to land a part.

Your character in Nobel Son is obviously troubled, but for a long time, we can't put our finger on why. What did you draw upon to capture that angsty energy?
Well, maybe somewhere deep down I'm troubled because it didn't feel like I was stretching that much. [Laughs] I gave it all up to the direction from Randy. I wanted this part so badly, and I auditioned my heart out for it. I brought props to the audition. I showed up and said, “I'll do anything you want me to in this room right now.”

What kind of props?
In the movie we have those crazy masks, so I brought two masks — one was an African mask from Cameroon that my mother had given me, and the other was this weird, tin, abstract one from Venice Beach. I had them in a paper bag with a couple other things — rope, a knife, all sorts of things.

A knife?
Hey, I was like, “I'll do whatever you want me to do.”

There's a line in the movie: "Crazy is a choice." Is something like that a key to your character?
Absolutely. I always loved hearing Anthony Hopkins talk about playing his character so well in The Silence of the Lambs. He said, "I acted like what I thought someone crazy would act." So you can come up with these profound descriptions or processes, but sometimes you also just read it and try to put yourself in that situation and just kind of become it.

There are some intimate moments in the film. Was shooting them a giggle-fest?
Absolutely. Bryan Greenberg and I have known each other since I was 14; he and my brother Nate went to NYU together, and I used to hang out in their dorm room. We shot on a rooftop in downtown L.A. Bryan was in a sock, I was in pasties, and we were rolling around in fiberglass for six hours. But Bryan's hot, so it was fun. It wasn't all that tough work.

Bryan's character seems plagued by occupational ambivalence and uncertainty. Did you ever question sticking with acting?
I did have to think long and hard about if because I never wanted to be an actress. My mother is a college professor and said, "Thank you very much, but a screen test in L.A. isn't really the kind of life I want for my daughter." She never pushed it. But then I hit a point when I was 17, when I graduated high school, I was enrolled at university, I had my dorm room and was all ready to begin my life normally after seven years of playing De Niro's and Schwarzenegger's daughters, all these random roles. And I got called out to do Buffy and wanted to make some money for tuition and a choice was there: "Okay, am I going to go try to figure out what I want to do when I really grow up or do this thing that landed in my lap?" Now I'm 27, and I just started a production company, so I guess I've made some choices that I didn't originally expect.

What about Dollhouse, which starts in February?
It's really exciting, I love it. Joss Whedon is my friend and my hero, and we came up with this show together. I'm an executive producer on it, and it's really a he-and-I team love project. We're on episode seven out of thirteen, and I've already played twentysomething different characters, because I play different characters every week since we're imprinted with these disparate personalities. And I ride motorcycles and bow-hunt and river-raft and do all these crazy things every week — it's just awesome.

How much do you get to train for those crazy things?
Maybe an hour. [Laughs] It's like the day before, Joss will say, "I'm going to throw you off a roof," and I say, "Cool, let's do it!"




Read more posts by Brent Simon

Filed Under: dollhouse, eliza dushku, joss whedon, movies, nobel son, tv






Source: Vulture | 5 Dec 2008 | 8:00 pm

You Cannot Deny The Hotness (Might Want To Grab Yourself A Towel For This)

We've debated a lot here over the hotness, personality, and appeal of Twilight star Robert Pattinson, and we've questioned those young women who have totally lost their sh*t (cutting their necks, trampling each other, going into cardiac arrest) at the sight of him. But after looking at this picture from Rolling Stone, I think I'm done debating. I've only shown you the hair here, because I want to give you ample time to prepare for the full picture. Light a candle, grab yourself a towel, close your office door, turn up the speakers, put on Chris Dane Owens "Shine", and scroll slowly down: (via Twilight Poison)
Source: Best Week Ever | 5 Dec 2008 | 8:00 pm

CAPTION THIS: Gordon Ramsay’s F*ckball

This beach ball is f*cking ROTTEN!!! You could have KILLLLLLED someone!!!
Source: Best Week Ever | 5 Dec 2008 | 7:50 pm

Katie Holmes’s Thirties-Inspired T: Style Spread Is Out




Katie Holmes transforms to a thirties screen goddess à la Marlene Dietrich in her new T: Style spread, which you can view online today. (If you care about what she has to say about acting, you can read about that, too.) The thirties-era styling reminds us of Madonna's new hotly debated Louis Vuitton ads. Both are all too appropriate for the sour economy. Now if only those ladies would share their money. [T: Style]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: cover girls, katie holmes, madonna louis vuitton, t style






Source: The Cut | 5 Dec 2008 | 7:46 pm

This Ad Makes Me Never Want To Eat Again

Reader Scott sent us this photo of an ad he saw in the D.C. Metro. Can you guess what ingredient is at the start of every single recipe?? Flour? Salt? Water? I'm not sure you want to know, but if you do, keep reading! The powerful fertilizer industry wants us to know that we are NOTHING without them! Eww. Suddenly the seemingly idyllic picture of the little kid is now terrifying. Is he eating a grub?
Source: Best Week Ever | 5 Dec 2008 | 7:30 pm

Barbara Walters Uncovers Video of Tina Fey Shaking What Her Mama Gave Her




While we learned just yesterday that Tina Fey is not nearly as smart as Seth MacFarlane, an authority no less than Barbara Walters named Fey as one of 2008's Most Fascinating People during her annual, soft-focus extravaganza last night. As is to be expected from a four-minute segment, we didn't get much in the way of depth (Babs wussed out on drawing tears out of Fey by failing to probe deeper on the scar scandal), but viewers were treated to an ancient three-second clip of Tina Fey shaking her boobs in 30 Rock co-star Scott Adsit's face (from her pre-makeover days at Second City Chicago). Now that's what we call fascinating! [Videogum]

Read more posts by Mark Graham

Filed Under: 30 Rock, Barbara Walters, Revelations, Tina Fey






Source: Vulture | 5 Dec 2008 | 7:30 pm

O.J. Simpson Is Going to Jail for a Long, Long Time




A minimum of fifteen years, to be exact, for his role in an armed confrontation over some memorabilia last year. Before being sentenced, Simpson told the judge, his voice quivering, "I didn't want to steal anything from anybody." But you did, O.J. You stole our trust. And in the end, that is the greatest crime of all. [CNN]


Read more posts by Dan Amira

Filed Under: crime, o.j. simpson, the slow wheels of justice, trials






Source: Daily Intel | 5 Dec 2008 | 7:24 pm

REMEMBERING O.J.: The Juice Gets Juiced

The news is out: O.J. Simpson has been sentenced to at least 15 years in prison for armed robbery in a Las Vegas hotel room. And you know what that means: We are now living in a world without an O.J. Simpson. So, to remember the better (and by better, we mean worse) times, we once again bring you a short video we strung together of the best moments from the O.J. Pay-Per-View extravaganza, "Juiced", which is like "Punk'd" for murderers... Here's to hoping a little animated O.J. figure pops up and says "Juiced!" in between his many future backdoor rapings.





Source: Best Week Ever | 5 Dec 2008 | 7:09 pm

Whet Your Topshop Palate With a Peek at the Clothes You Can Buy There!




Topshop owner Sir Philip Green stealthily traveled to New York this week. He brought with him treasures to share with New York's fashion community: the spring/summer Topshop and Topman lines — the first collections that will hit the sales floor of the Soho Topshop, now slated for a March opening. We obtained a mini look book of the offerings. The image at left is a taste. To see some clothes you can wear below the neck, click on.






Photo: Courtesy of Topshop



Photo: Courtesy of Topshop

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: first looks, sir philip green, store openings, topman, topshop






Source: The Cut | 5 Dec 2008 | 7:05 pm

Dolph Lundgren’s Comeback Going About As Well As Could Be Expected




"The concert is going on and the rock music is kind of blasting and the audience isn't really sure what's going on and the bad guys walk up on stage and the dancers kind of keep moving and some people are still thinking it's a concert and some are running. They take the president hostage, his family, his daughters and you know my character's name is Joe and he's kind of off having a joint in the bathroom. It's a bit unusual." —Dolph Lundgren describes the opening moments of his upcoming Command Performance, in which he plays a rock drummer who has to rescue the president of Russia after terrorists kidnap him at a concert [MTV Movies Blog]

"I would actually be working with James Bond. And he would get kidnapped, and I would have to come get him and save the day. It's a natural thing. It's organic." —Diddy lobbies to be the next James Bond [MTV]

"There was a night when we were all on our senior trip in college and we were on Mulholland Drive, taking a piss all over the fucking street. Danny and me and everyone is screaming 'Fuck L.A.' and reassuring each other that we were not going to turn into those douchebags. And thankfully — except for Danny — none of us have." —Ben Best on Danny McBride [/Film]

“It was out of the window of a car, but I saw the White House, which is the most important thing, and then I saw the theater where Lincoln was shot, and then I saw that very long stick." —Kate Beckinsale describes the Washington Monument [Politico]

"We sat cross-legged on the floor in this dark room that had a lava lamp in the corner, and David [Lynch] leaned over and touched me on the knee and said … 'Ray, it was you, it was always you.' And that was it. I said something like, 'Oh shit!'" —Ray Wise had the same reaction you did to finding out that Leland Palmer killed Laura Palmer on Twin Peaks [A.V. Club]

"Well, I definitely was playing some bongos. It was late, and it was hot, and there was … there wasn't much clothing going on with the bongos." —Matthew McConaughey confirms the validity of all those naked bongo reports [Bullz-Eye]

Read more posts by Tammy Oler

Filed Under: ben best, diddy, dolph lundgren, kate beckinsale, Matthew McConaughey, quote machine, ray wise






Source: Vulture | 5 Dec 2008 | 7:00 pm

NBC preps major executive shuffle

Front Page: Teri Weinberg, Katherine Pope to exit -- In a pre-holiday Peacock bloodbath, Universal Media Studios topper Katherine Pope and NBC Entertainment exec VP Teri Weinberg - long expected to be on the chopping block - are both out.




Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 5 Dec 2008 | 6:37 pm

Tim Gunn Fears Project Runway’s Sixth Season Won’t Air




Don't let Heidi Klum's naïvely chipper attitude about the fate of Project Runway fool you. Though she told us she's sure it will start airing in January, Tim Gunn is afraid we'll never see the "phenomenal" sixth season. "We have this horrible, nasty court case. We have an angry Bravo/NBC. We have an angry Lifetime. We have, I'm sure, an angry Weinstein Company … We have Heidi and I despondent about the whole thing. We worry that season six will never be seen by anyone." We knew we couldn't trust Klum. [Washington Blade]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: bravo, heidi klum, lawsuits, lifetime, make it work, project runway, reality tv, tim gunn, weinstein co






Source: The Cut | 5 Dec 2008 | 6:25 pm

Takashi Murakami Scales Back at Art Basel




There's an old joke that an artist attending an art fair is like a cow touring a butcher shop, but this year, Art Basel and its satellite fairs have been swarming with them, often used as celebrity magnets to draw collectors to events and openings in a sluggish market. Chuck Close and Vic Muniz have been spotted. David LaChapelle, whose "Jesus Is My Homeboy" show at local gallery Fred Snitzer has been one of the few hits of the fair, flew in from Hawaii for the opening of it and for Russell Simmons's charity dinner for Rush Philanthropic. And Carole Feuerman is here mourning the fact that her sculpture The Survival of Serena, on its way to being displayed at the entrance of Art Miami, "broke into a hundred pieces."


Takashi Murakami, lounging outside the Louis nightclub at the Gansevoort, is sanguine about the art bubble’s bust: "We knew this was coming for about a year. And have been scaling back" both production and product. What’s next? "More scaling back," he says. But, in at least one field, he’s expanding. Murakami’s production company, Kaikai Kiki, opens an animation studio in Hollywood this summer for more cartoons of big-eyed grinning rabbits and Buddhas.

Read more posts by Alexandra Peers

Filed Under: art, art basel, art basel miami, basel blog, carole feuerman, chuck close, david lachappelle, takashi murakami, vic muniz






Source: Vulture | 5 Dec 2008 | 6:15 pm

Jimmy Fallon show gets online push

Front Page: Webisodes begin Monday night on NBC.com -- Viewers will get a first taste of Jimmy Fallon's new NBC yakker next week. Video blogs starring Fallon will start appearing nightly at 12:35 a.m. on NBC's website beginning Monday.




Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 5 Dec 2008 | 5:50 pm

Nightmares at the Holiday Office Party

'Tis the season for holiday office parties, and the horror stories they breed.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 5:45 pm

The RNC Actually Spent $180,000 on the Palin Clan’s Clothes


The kids must be wearing their "nice" outfits here.

Oh, sigh. The Republican National Committee spent $30,000 more than we previously thought on clothes and beauty procedures for Sarah Palin and her family, bringing the grand total to $180,000. New reports reveal the RNC spent $350 at Escape Skin Care and Day Spa in New York. That will get you about three "luxe" facials or one application of permanent eyeliner on either the upper or lower lids — necessities, people.

The sinful spending that occurred at stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus in the beginning of September continued in October, when thousands of dollars of RNC funds were spent at these stores and Macy's. Other stores to benefit from the shopping sprees include Dick’s Sporting Goods, the Limited, Foot Locker, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, and Victoria’s Secret (1. They bought undies?! 2. Donors, we are sorry). Additionally, hundreds of dollars were spent on Palin's family at Brooks Brothers, the Gap, Express, and JCPenney. So Palin got to shop at Saks while her family had to shop at the Gap? Good on the Palins for helping to keep that company afloat, but some of her kids are old enough to appreciate the bounty of Saks. Also, what did they buy at Dick's Sporting Goods and Toys R Us? A ball and wiffle bat for a good folksy photo op?

An RNC spokesman tells Politico, "The accessories have been returned, inventoried and will be appropriately dispersed to various charities." First, we'd like to request that they spare charities of the underwear bought. Second, what are they waiting for? 'Tis better to give than receive. If only the Palins understood that from the get-go.

RNC spends $180K on Palin and family [Politico]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: gap, macys, neiman marcus, political style, politics, republican national committee, saks fifth avenue, sarah palin, shopping, victorias secret






Source: The Cut | 5 Dec 2008 | 5:43 pm

Buckcherry, Avenged Sevenfold Extend Tour

Nothing screams holiday spirit like a Buckcherry/Avenged Sevenfold tour. The hard rock co-headliners are extending their trek with a second leg set to begin Jan. 28 in Albuquerque, N.M. Joining them on the bill will be Papa Roach and Saving Abel.




Source: Billboard.com | 5 Dec 2008 | 5:36 pm

Could 'Bolt' be this weekend's No. 1?

The first full weekend in December is always pretty slow at the box office, which is surprising given that it falls right in the heart of the big holiday movie season. That could help "Bolt" -- which has been strong but not No. 1 -- take the top spot.




Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 5:27 pm

A Store for Modernists: Vera Wang's Newest Boutique (Fashion Wire Daily)

Fashion Wire Daily - Vera Wang hasn't opened a boutique since 1989, but it only means that her new store, which opened in New York on Dec. 4 to a packed crowd of well-wishers, can lay claim to be the most contemporary shopping experience one can have with Vera Wang.



Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 5 Dec 2008 | 5:22 pm

Morello: Don't Hold Breath For Rage Album

With two albums out, more than 50 songs that have not yet been recorded and a world gone awry, Tom Morello plans to stay busy as the Nightwatchman for the foreseeable future. But one project he won't be working on is a new album from Rage Against The Machine, which reformed in 2007 after a seven-year break.




Source: Billboard.com | 5 Dec 2008 | 5:21 pm

One of the theaters at the Forum des Images in Paris

One of the theaters at the Forum des Images in Paris. Paris got a brand new temple to film Friday when the Forum des Images reopened after three years of renovations and kicked off a packed programme with...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 5 Dec 2008 | 5:04 pm

The entrance of the Forum des Images

The entrance of the Forum des Images at the Forum des Halles after its renovation. Paris got a brand new temple to film Friday when the Forum des Images reopened after three years of renovations and kicked...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 5 Dec 2008 | 5:04 pm

One of the cinemas of the Forum des Images

One of the cinemas of the Forum des Images at the Forum des Halles after its renovation. Paris got a brand new temple to film Friday when the Forum des Images reopened after three years of renovations...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 5 Dec 2008 | 5:04 pm

Dixie Chicks Singer Natalie Maines Sued by Murdered Boy's St

Suit says Maines made "false and reckless claim" that he committed murder
Source: FOXNews.com | 5 Dec 2008 | 4:54 pm

Book follows Saddam Hussein down the spider hole (AP)

AP - "Mission: Black List #1 — The Inside Story of the Search for Saddam Hussein — As Told By the Soldier Who Masterminded His Capture" (HarperCollins, 288 pages, $25.95), by Eric Maddox with Davin Seay:



Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 5 Dec 2008 | 4:32 pm

Walters special lifts ABC to win

Front Page: Net seems big improvement over 'Life on Mars' -- With Barbara Walters filling in the 10 p.m. timeslot and earning substantial viewer increases over "Life on Mars," the British import recently put on hiatus until January, ABC scored a close win Thursday night over CBS, according to early estimates from Nielsen.




Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 5 Dec 2008 | 4:09 pm

Nov. job losses highest in 34 years

Front Page: Employers cut 533,000 jobs last month -- Skittish employers slashed 533,000 jobs in November, the most in 34 years, catapulting the unemployment rate to 6.7 percent, dramatic proof the country is careening deeper into recession.




Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 5 Dec 2008 | 4:02 pm

Black Eyed Peas Tap Into New 'Energy'

The Black Eyed Peas are planning more of a "music diary" than a conventional album when the group releases "The END" in March. Group leader will.i.am tells Billboard.com that "The END" stands for "The Energy Never Dies," which describes his model for a project that will be living and frequently updated throughout its designated cycle.




Source: Billboard.com | 5 Dec 2008 | 3:50 pm

O.J. Simpson sentenced to 15 years

Front Page: Former football star jailed for armed robbery -- A broken O.J. Simpson has been sentenced to at least 15 years in prison for a Las Vegas hotel armed robbery by a judge who rejected his apology and said, "It was much more than stupidity."




Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 5 Dec 2008 | 3:45 pm

Paula Abdul Selling 'Suicide Home'; Heath Ledger's Apartment

'American Idol' host unloading L.A. mansion weeks after fan died outside her front lawn
Source: FOXNews.com | 5 Dec 2008 | 3:41 pm

FOX411: Shia Quits Film Over Smashed Hand

Indiana Jones would probably call him a wuss
Source: FOXNews.com | 5 Dec 2008 | 3:31 pm

DJ Tiesto, Carl Cox Set For Ultra Festival

DJ Tiesto, Carl Cox, Bloc Party, Deadmau5, the Ting Tings, Cut Copy and Crystal Castles lead the bill for the 2009 Ultra Music Festival, to be held March 27-29 at Bicentennial Park in downtown Miami.




Source: Billboard.com | 5 Dec 2008 | 3:27 pm

PHOTOS: Barbara Walters Presents: The Most Fascinating People of 2008

Pres-elect Barack Obama tops Barbara Walters' list of Most Fascinating People.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 3:13 pm

Joe Satriani Sues Coldplay For Plagiarism

Rock guitarist Joe Satriani has sued British band Coldplay, accusing the Grammy-nominated stars of plagiarizing one of his songs. Satriani's copyright infringement suit, filed yesterday (Dec. 4) in Los Angeles federal court, claims the Coldplay song "Viva La Vida" incorporates "substantial original portions" of his 2004 instrumental "If I Could Fly."




Source: Billboard.com | 5 Dec 2008 | 3:08 pm

Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating, 2008

Tom Cruise, Tina Fey, Will Smith top Barbara Walters' 2008 "Most Fascinating."
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 2:47 pm

WATCH: Kimmel: Obama Snubs Fox News


Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 2:33 pm

Gallery: Britney lights the tree




Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 2:29 pm

Review: Beyonce dazzles in 'Cadillac'

"Cadillac Records," the story of a rowdy musical revolution and the record label that helped to launch it, begins in 1941, when Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright) is a sharecropper playing slide guitar under the blazing hot Mississippi sun.




Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 2:21 pm

Boy George Found Guilty of Hadcuffing Man to Wall

Awaits sentencing on charge of false imprisonment
Source: FOXNews.com | 5 Dec 2008 | 1:58 pm

Why Was Mark Ruffalo's Brother Shot?

Police seek two in shooting as actor's hairdresser brother clings to life.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 1:07 pm

Review: Victory signs for 'Frost/Nixon'

A series of 30-year-old television interviews doesn't sound like promising movie material. But "Frost/Nixon," based on the interviews David Frost did with Richard Nixon in 1977, is powered by strong performances and a good script.




Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 1:04 pm

Britney Album On Target For No. 1 Debut

Britney Spears' "Circus" remains on track to debut at No. 1 on next week's Billboard 200, based on sales data reported to Nielsen SoundScan's Building chart through the close of business yesterday (Dec. 4).




Source: Billboard.com | 5 Dec 2008 | 1:02 pm

PHOTOS: Hollywood Feuds

Comedians Colbert and Handler are the latest celebs dishing out the dirt.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 1:01 pm

Hudson Breaks Silence for Grammys

Jennifer Hudson, in seclusion since family murders, says she's honored by nods.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 12:58 pm

Gai Mattiolo arrested for alleged bankruptcy fraud (AP)

AP - The Italian financial police say they have arrested fashion designer Gai Mattiolo on a charge of fraudulent bankruptcy.



Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 5 Dec 2008 | 12:36 pm

Boy George guilty of imprisoning escort

Former Culture Club singer Boy George has been convicted of falsely imprisoning a male escort.




Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 11:55 am

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