Capitalizing on rumors that Jay Leno isn't ready to hang up his Peacock feathers, the network...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 9 Dec 2008 | 1:30 am

Spoiler Chat: Gossip Girl's Dan Takes a New Lover!

Meow! Don't tell Serena, but it looks like Gossip Girl's Dan Humphrey is getting a cougar for Christmas. The good news? She's really only 25.   The badass...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 9 Dec 2008 | 1:20 am

Ruffalo Shooting Suspect Arrested (E! Online)

E! Online - The Scott Ruffalo case is heating up.

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 9 Dec 2008 | 1:12 am

Lost Video: New Mysteries Revealed

Holler! Those nefarious nice folks over at the Dharma Initiative have released a new video in anticipation of Lost's season-five premiere on ABC on Jan. 21. The video, posted just...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 9 Dec 2008 | 1:05 am

Writers Dig Dexter, Lost, 30 Rock, True Blood

The blood, sweat and tears begot by a conflicted serial killer, some Madison Avenue suits, a troop of desperate castaways, Texas' grittiest high school football team and the Baltimore drug...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 9 Dec 2008 | 12:58 am

Ruffalo Shooting Suspect Arrested

The Scott Ruffalo case is heating up. Just hours after police issued a warrant, a woman has been arrested for the shooting of Mark Ruffalo's younger...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 9 Dec 2008 | 12:31 am

Shannen Doherty's Brenda Walsh Not Six Feet Under (E! Online)

E! Online - Brenda Walsh is alive and kicking, thank you very much.

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 9 Dec 2008 | 12:17 am

Supreme Court Stays Out of This Election

In case you didn't hear, as everyone anticipated last week, the Supremes declined to hear a case arguing over Barack Obama's eligibility to be president based upon his citizenship. [Christian Science Monitor]

Read more posts by Chris Rovzar

Filed Under: barack obama, election hangover, politics, supreme court

Source: Daily Intel | 8 Dec 2008 | 11:30 pm

T.R. Knight Angling for a Brain Tumor

Actor-writer relations continue to deteriorate behind the scenes of Grey's Anatomy, as T.R. Knight is rumored to have walked off the set. Claims blogger Crazy Days and Nights in an unverified scoop:

"He hasn't attended table reads since episode 2. He is pissed and miserable and thinks his story line is stupid. He said goodbye to his hair and makeup people last week. He says he is done and has quit. ABC has not released him. Shondra Rhimes, the producer, called him and he told her he had nothing to say. He has packed his dressing room."

Frankly, we're surprised he hasn't heeded the tragic lesson of Dr. Stevens: Throw a tantrum over your crappy story line this season and you can probably expect to sleep with a ghost in the next.

T.R. Knight Update [Crazy Days and Nights via Defamer]

Earlier: Katherine Heigl Deathwatch Gets Downright Kooky on Grey’s Anatomy

Read more posts by Lane Brown

Filed Under: abc, actors, grey's anatomy, katherine heigl, t.r. knight, tv

Source: Vulture | 8 Dec 2008 | 11:30 pm

Marc Jacobs on Those Marriage Rumors, MySpace, and Naomi Campbell

Lengthy Marc Jacobs profiles are like new seasons of America's Next Top Model: They keep coming. And coming. And coming. Except unlike America's Next Top Model, Marc Jacobs intrigues us pretty much every time. Reporters ask him the same stuff about his tattoos, his exercise regimen, his diet, his muses, and though his answers are never very different, we linger on his every word each time. It's hard not to love a celebrity who embraces the limelight for the good and bad, while so many others only want to be a part of it on their own terms. Herewith, our favorite bits from the latest Marcfile in the Sunday Times.

Marc loves being part of the gossip columns, according to his ex, Jason Preston, but his new beau, Lorenzo Martone, isn't a fan — and wasn't crazy about those marriage rumors.

“[Lorenzo and I] both laughed about it, but it was difficult for him because of his career,” he says. “I’m realising that the people I know are hurt by gossip more than I am myself, and I find that really unfair.”

Thought MySpace was dead? Think again!

“I need some photographs for my MySpace page,” he says. “I don’t know how to post the pictures, so my assistant does it. MySpace makes people happy, which is cool. Also I get very lonely, and MySpace makes me feel better.”

Okay, maybe it's dead, just not buried.

[Marc] decided to take down his MySpace page. “There were too many dramas over it, and some people were turning into stalkers,” says Jacobs. “Plus, there were all these fake pages pretending to be me popping up.” He sighs. “I don’t want imposter me’s around.”

Marc doesn't want to date a “media whore”' again.

“I’ve had boyfriends who were media whores, and, God bless them, they were great people,” says Jacobs, obliquely referring to Preston and then trailing off. “I shouldn’t have said that; that wasn’t nice to say.” He pauses. “I was in a relationship for the past couple of years with someone who loved the attention of the media,” he says. “I don’t want to make the same mess again.”

It scares us to think this, but do Britney Spears or Amy Winehouse have a Marc Jacobs campaign in their futures?

“I love fallen angels,” he has said. “There are certain girls who make mistakes, and I just love that. I love the strength to move forward. It’s very hard to be someone publicly and then to be human and honest at the same time. It’s a dark angel, not dark like an evil spirit, but a melancholy, broken soul. It’s a good thing.”

SpongeBob shall not stand alone. Marc wants more cartoon tats.

“I want George and Martha [two hippos from a cartoon]. Or bears. Cute bears, I mean, grizzly ones, but not mean ones. I’d also like to get Nemo.”

Naomi Campbell helped talk him into rehab.

“Naomi, as someone who struggled with her own demons and problems, was able to take me on.” He sighs. “I’m sure the root of my problems goes much further back than before I was successful. When I was younger, all the kids I thought were cool smoked cigarettes, my favourite rock stars were heroin addicts, my favourite writers were taking acid. As a kid, what I thought looked cool was very dark and drug-oriented.”

If you though Marc's new affinity for man skirts was great, just you wait.

“You know, I recently bought these really weird shorts, like MC Hammer pants but shorts. In certain élite circles, people would say to me, ‘Why are you wearing those weird Moroccan pants?’ Other people ask, ‘Why are you wearing those?’, period. But kids are like, ‘Those are f***ing dope pants.’ Young people are so open and cool about a super-styley attitude.”

Marc Jacobs is the shameless high priest of fashion [Times UK]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: jason preston, lorenzo martone, marc jacobs, marcfiles, naomi campbell, tattoos

Source: The Cut | 8 Dec 2008 | 11:24 pm

Anne Hathaway Will Get You Shitfaced for Just $12K

The other night in Los Angeles, Anne Hathaway auctioned off a date with herself to benefit the Trevor Project, a crisis helpline for LGBT youth. "I'm not usually very forward, but I thought if there was ever a crowd for me to do something like this, this is my crowd so I would like to auction myself off," she said, "for drinks somewhere fabulous and basically get you totally s--- faced. Tell me what I'm worth." The winning bid came in at $12,000. Which is really such a bargain! She used to be worth $20,000! And poor Raffaello Follieri had to pay so much more. It must be the recession. Intel readers, hold fast to your piggy banks. If she makes an offer like this again, we are all combining forces and going.

Date With Anne Hathaway Goes for $12,000 [People]

Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: anne hathaway, raffaello follieri, The Most Important People in the World

Source: Daily Intel | 8 Dec 2008 | 11:22 pm

Fox learns 'How to Talk to Girls'

Front Page: Studio nabs rights to 9-year-old's advice guide -- Twentieth Century Fox has optioned rights to "How to Talk to Girls," a newly published advice guide written by Alec Greven, a 9-year-old expert on the subject.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 8 Dec 2008 | 11:07 pm

Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain Gives Up on Bonus

Good-bye, friends.

What a difference a day makes! The Journal earlier today: "Mr. Thain had been for months making his case to the board's four-person compensation committee that he deserves a multi-million bonus and in recent weeks suggested it should be between $5 million and $10 million, according to people familiar with the matter."

And now: "Mr. Thain, according to one person close to the firm, today officially requested he not get a bonus." [WSJ]

Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: john thain, merrill lynch, The Greatest Depression

Source: Daily Intel | 8 Dec 2008 | 11:05 pm

Lost: Sawyer's Having a Baby!

Congratulations Josh Holloway and Yessica Kumala! Josh's publicist has confirmed to us that the Lost star and his beautiful bride are expecting their first kiddo sometime in...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 8 Dec 2008 | 11:02 pm

…OF THE DAY

• NEVER SAW THIS COMING: Here's Katy Perry drunk and grinding on some dude at a club. I forget what's up next for Katy on the list of sudden-celebrity tabloid crap -- I think it's either DUI or "dating Drew Barrymore". (TMZ)
• WHAT ABOUT A DAVE SEQUEL: Sigourney Weaver reportedly wants to do another Alien movie, even though the Ripley character was killed off in 1992 and Alien Resurrection was a piece of crap. I just hope the aliens' treasure isn't knowledge. (MTV Movies Blog)
• LESS D*CKISH GENE SIMMONS: Here's a man in India who paints amazing paintings with his tongue. Lllllllllladies? (Yahoo Video)
• WIFE, APPARENTLY: With Prop 8 defeated, Top Model judge Nigel Barker decided to have a baby girl. (People)
• FILM OF THE YEAR: Time Magazine unveiled its list of the Top 10 Films of 2008. Bet you didn't know that Speed Racer was better than The Dark Knight. (Time)

Source: Best Week Ever | 8 Dec 2008 | 11:00 pm

Karl Lagerfeld Casts Jerry Hall for Chanel Campaign

Oh la la, get her a male model and a bag and call it an ad!

Karl Lagerfeld will shoot a Chanel handbag campaign inspired by Colette's Chéri novel, about the relationship between a young man and a woman almost twice his age. Model Baptiste Giabiconi, who appeared in Lagerfeld's silent film, will play the young man, and Jerry Hall will play the cougar. Giabiconi will appear "seeking her affections on a bed strewn with a quilt — and a quilted bag," according to WWD. On the heels of Madonna's Louis Vuitton ads, we're glad to see fashion designers not ignoring women over 50 this season. After all, aren't they the ones buying this stuff anyway? We do wonder if they're shooting this at Karl's home in Vermont. You know, eating Ben & Jerry's together on the front porch in the evenings and riding cows during the day.

HALL MARK [WWD]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: advertising, baptiste giabiconi, campaign trail, chanel, jerry hall, karl lagerfeld, models

Source: The Cut | 8 Dec 2008 | 10:50 pm

Zucker: NBC is open to options

Front Page: Primetime programming slate could be cut -- NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker said the current economic conditions and NBC's recent performance mean "every option is on the table" in terms of improving the Peacock's fortunes.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 8 Dec 2008 | 10:45 pm

Newspapers Kick Off the Week With Mortgages, Self-Analysis

Today, newspapers began a “glum” week by mortgaging their homes and doing some old-fashioned self-analyzing. Some CEOs stepped down, and journalists are noticing the current of bad news. But has all the folded print media helped blogs earn more recognition? The Pulitzer board might think so. Read on, then:

• Christie Hefner is stepping down as chairman and CEO of Playboy Enterprises after twenty years. The company, which eliminated 80 staffers last October, is suffering from declining ad revenue, but Hefner says that the company is strong, and she’s only leaving because she loves Barack Obama and would rather work for him than look at any more centerfolds. [Mixed Media/Portfolio]

• The Pulitzer Prize board has announced that it’s allowing online-only news organizations and journalists to compete for its prestigious journalism prizes. Time to refine this “deathwatch” post! [FishbowlNY/Mediabistro]

• The Times’ David Carr has noticed that journalists are facing daily layoff news and a “data cloud that is crackling with panic.” But we don’t know what he’s talking about. [NYT]

• Ad Age has also caught on to this trend, and rounds this year’s media layoff count to 30,000. [Ad Age]

• The Miami Herald is now up for sale by its owner, the McClatchy Company. Any takers? No? Okay. [IHT]

Read more posts by Mike Vilensky

Filed Under: christie hefner, david carr, mcclatchy, media, media deathwatch, miami herald, new york times, new york times building, playboy

Source: Daily Intel | 8 Dec 2008 | 10:45 pm

Madonna Wins Battle With UK Tabloid

Pop queen wins privacy case against tabloid over alleged stolen wedding pics.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 8 Dec 2008 | 10:35 pm

Eminem’s ‘Number One’ More Like Number Two

He’s not Axl Rose — yet — but it has been four years since Eminem had an album at the top of the charts. “Number One” — which might be unfinished; some YouTube commenters even write that Eminem runs through a verse intended for Dr. Dre — suggests he’s angling for that old success, but even with this solid beat, it doesn't sound like he’s even up to the faded glory of Encore. His rhymes are clunky and embarrassing (“So crack a bottle, let your body waddle / Don't act just like a sloppy model, you just hit the lotto”), and when he sings, we wish he'd borrowed Kanye's Auto-Tune. Eminem’s forthcoming album is called Relapse, but finished or not, this track just feels like a hangover.

Download “Number One”: Hip Hop Music

Read more posts by Ehren Gresehover

Filed Under: dr. dre, eminem, music, right-click

Source: Vulture | 8 Dec 2008 | 10:28 pm

6 Alternate Uses For Your $130 Lindsay Lohan Leggings After They Go Out Of Style (Tomorrow)

Today the news broke that Lindsay Lohan's leggings line, 6126, is selling like hotcakes. As excited as you may be to own your own pair of $130 leggings (with built-in knee pads), you know just as well as I do that they are not going to stay in fashion forever. Don't fret though - your investment won't go to waste, if you repurpose them for something else: GIANT SLINGSHOT UNBREAKABLE TRASHBAGSCut them in half, tie a knot at the bottom, and you've got a trash bag that is virtually indestructible! (Perfect for pizza boxes and body parts.) WIND SOCK (2) MATERIAL WITH WHICH YOU MAY TIE UP LINDSAY LOHANBecause eventually, everyone has sex with Lindsay Lohan, and you'll want to be ready when the time comes. HALLOWEEN SCARECROW YARD DECORATION NOOSE WITH WHICH TO HANG YOURSELFBecause when Lindsay's leggings go out of style, so will your will to live.
Source: Best Week Ever | 8 Dec 2008 | 10:28 pm

Governor Paterson Speaks Truth to Power

Our Cuddle Guv gave us one more thing to smile about over the weekend at the (technically off-the-record) Gridiron dinner. When talking about how he wanted to one day be president of the United States, he astutely observed that he has a good shot. After all, he reminded the audience: "Once you go black, you don't go back." [Politico]

Read more posts by Chris Rovzar

Filed Under: black people, david paterson, governor awesome, media, politics

Source: Daily Intel | 8 Dec 2008 | 10:25 pm

Breaking: Sergio Rossi to Close All Stores in United States by Early 2009

Bye-bye, pumps.

We're on Madison Avenue store deathwatch right now, and the latest one to go is Italian footwear brand Sergio Rossi. Just a week after their blowout sample sale at the Metropolitan Pavilion, where prices were slashed by 90 percent ($700 shoes were going for $50, and $1,000 boots were $100), a representative confirmed to us today that all stores in the United States will close by early 2009. "Strategically the company has decided to focus on its wholesale, which has proven to be the correct channel for the brand development and further expansion in the U.S," the spokesperson said. "As a consequence, its current New York, Los Angeles, and Hawaii retail stores will be closed at the end of 2008 and into the first quarter of 2009." However, the shoes will still be available at department stores. "We took the decision some months ago as part of our strategy. We have implemented it over this period, and it is becoming effective during the first quarter of 2009." When we asked if this is how the company is dealing with the economy — as opposed to calling it a predetermined business plan — the answer was "no comment." Even so, the national closing of Sergio Rossi stand-alones speaks for itself.

Read more posts by Sharon Clott

Filed Under: sales, sergio rossi, shopping, shutterings

Source: The Cut | 8 Dec 2008 | 10:22 pm

Urban Outfitters Yanks Same-Sex Marriage T-shirt From Shelves

The shirt in question.

Printed T-shirts are a staple item for Urban Outfitters, but in a rare move, the company yanked one from their California shelves last week. Tara Littman of Support Shirts designed the shirt in question, which features the statement "I Support Same Sex Marriage," clearly a hot-button item in the Proposition 8 state. Less than a week after it first arrived in stores and online, the shirt was gone. A buyer cited the reason as "too much bad press" to Littman, though the designer couldn't find more than one blog entry that dissed the shirt. (Funny how a youth-targeted company blamed the Internet.) But we had to wonder if there was more to it than just bad press. After all, Urban has carried more sensational items than this in the past. In a 2006 interview, the Boston Globe asked Richard Hayne, the CEO of Urban Outfitters, if he felt regrets or second thoughts about potentially offensive products, and he said "very, very, very rarely." So is the veto of Littman's shirt just a case of good ol' discrimination? Consider this: Hayne is a notably right-wing Republican who supports senators who vote for legislation against gay marriage. In fact, last May the British Website ThisIsMoney.co.uk wrote, "Hayne must be the only retailer whose expansion plans depend on no one finding out who he really is." Interesting where your money goes, isn't it? When a right-wing Republican is the one concocting your anti-Establishment image, you start to wonder if the entire hipster movement has been duped into becoming puppets of Hayne's billionaire income. Because if we're all suckers, that just sucks.

Mixed Messages: Why Did Urban Outfitters Pull a T-Shirt Supporting Gay Marriage? [Racked]
Urban Outfitters to stay focused on youth [Boston Globe]
I Support Support Shirts [Brad Walsh]
BAE set for rough time in the arms of Justice [This Is Money]

Read more posts by Sharon Clott

Filed Under: gay marriage, gay rights, losing edge, richard hayne, shopping, urban outfitters

Source: The Cut | 8 Dec 2008 | 10:18 pm

Morgan Stanley’s Top Execs Give Up Bonuses

Ding ding ding! It's another victory for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, a.k.a. the Bonus Buster. Following in the footsteps of Goldman Sachs, AIG, and (maybe?) Citigroup, each of whom gave up bonuses for top executives this year, Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack and two other Morgan Stanley execs have "decided" to forgo their bonuses this year, the second year in a row for Mack. Whether the threatening letters they received from the A.G. this fall had anything to do with their decisions is unknown, though we feel certain Cuomo will take the credit for it. But the timing of Mack's gesture, which comes on the heels of the news that Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain is seeking $10 million for services rendered, suggests it was more about self-preservation. Thain's demand was not especially warmly received, considering that the company lost $11 billion this year and is about to embark on massive layoffs as it merges with AIG; over at the World Financial Center, employees are still picking pieces of Thain's testicles out of their hair. By giving up his bonus, Mack, who took home more than $40 million back in 2006 and doesn't need it anyway, can avoid a similar fate. He can, like the other executives, look selfless, like he's Doing the Right Thing. And he can enjoy the use of his nethers, at least until January.

Morgan Stanley Executives Forgo Bonuses, As Program Is Changed [DealBook/NYT]

Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: andrew cuomo, bonuses, john mack, White Men With Money

Source: Daily Intel | 8 Dec 2008 | 10:11 pm

Puppies Rescue Lost Three-Year-Old In Attempt To Give Us A Break From Sh*tty Economic News

Just two days after the internet treated us to this video of a dog running out into a highway to rescue another dog, here comes another suspiciously adorable story involving a three-year-old boy who got lost in the woods but survived thanks to two puppies that snuggled up against the kid and kept him from freezing:

A toddler lost in the Virginia woods was back home safe Sunday thanks to two puppies who kept him warm through a harrowing night of freezing temperatures. Officials said the lost little boy and the two family puppies wandered up to a mile in the dark, even across a highway, but it wasn't until Saturday afternoon that members of the search team found him sitting by a tree, the two puppies nestled against him... "He told me that ... the dogs slept up against him. And I'm sure the body heat kept him warm," said his mother, Sarah Ingram.

It seems super cute on the surface, but here's my theory: The government has unleashed a secret race of super-puppies specifically trained to accomplish random acts of adorable heroism in order to grab headlines and divert our attention from more bad news about the crumbling economy. And if you think I'm crazy, just wait til Wednesday when a pug diffuses a biological weapon in the middle of Los Angeles, saving millions of lives and inspiring another season of 24.
Source: Best Week Ever | 8 Dec 2008 | 10:10 pm

NBC moving Leno to 10 p.m. slot

Front Page: 'Tonight Show' host to stick with network -- Jay Leno won't be departing NBC after all. The network is prepped to announce Tuesday that the "Tonight Show" host will take over the 10 p.m. weeknight slot starting next fall.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 8 Dec 2008 | 10:05 pm

Some Greenpointers: If Gunk Is Seeping Into House, We’d Rather Not Know

Greenpoint is an ecologically iffy part of Brooklyn, to say the least — all those various oil spills and old-school-company toxic-waste dumpings, you know. Now environmentalists are trying to gauge just how many homes are contaminated. But guess what? Some Greenpoint householders don't want to know! Earlier this year, the state wanted to inspect 58 homes but they got access to only twelve, because many are afraid that the findings will make their home values plummet, while "others may mistrust the government, be illegal residents or … be in denial." Which is hard to argue with, but still, what about the children? [NYT]

Read more posts by Tim Murphy

Filed Under: greenpoint, neighborhood watch, pollution, real estate

Source: Daily Intel | 8 Dec 2008 | 9:55 pm

Gisele Bündchen to Wed Tom Brady in March?

Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady are reportedly planning secret mid-March nuptials, according to In Touch. A small wedding with no engagement announcement will supposedly take place in Costa Rica, where Gisele has a home. Yeah, and in other news, Kate Moss is with child. [Just Jared]

Read more posts by Kate Zimmerman

Filed Under: gisele bundchen, kate moss, model tracker, tom brady

Source: The Cut | 8 Dec 2008 | 9:46 pm

NBC May Scale Back the Number of Hours It Airs Its Poorly Rated Shows

How bad was NBC's fall lineup this year? So bad that, of the network's four new shows, only Kath & Kim is still in production. So bad that NBC is now apparently firing everybody except Ben Silverman. So bad that Jeff Zucker just announced to investors that the network is considering cutting back the number of hours, or possibly even the number of nights, it airs programming. "Can we continue to program 22 hours of prime-time? Three of our competitors don't," said Zucker. "Can we afford to program seven nights a week? One of our competitors doesn't." Still, while acknowledging the network's crappy ratings and stopping just short of mentioning how terrible Knight Rider is, Zucker refused to cast any blame: "We have not had a good fall at NBC. I don't think that's lost on anyone, but in no way have we lost confidence in [NBC Entertainment co-chairmen Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff]." In a hilarious, semi-related story, an apparently unconcerned Ben Silverman was seen hitting the slopes yesterday at the Deer Valley Celebrity Skifest in Deer Valley, Utah.

Zucker says NBC may scale down programming hours [Reuters]

Read more posts by Lane Brown

Filed Under: ben silverman, jeff zucker, marc graboff, nbc

Source: Vulture | 8 Dec 2008 | 9:45 pm

Kop Busters Kalls Out Police Korruption

Videogum posted this local news story about an on-line reality show in which a team of angry citizens try to catch police officers behaving corruptly and falsely imprisoning people (namely, a woman named Yolanda Madding). The idea itself is obviously pretty ridiculous - their tactic is to lure cops into a fake drug den, and then, when the cops show up, all they find is a poster (written in the handwriting of a first grade teacher), and a Kop Busters t-shirt on the wall. I had no idea that "Wal-Mart blow-up cellphones" and little pine trees (they look like DRUGS!) were the "best equipment known to man"! ALSO - see the DRAMATIC raw footage of the cops coming into the fake drug house, after the jump. This is the future of television.
Source: Best Week Ever | 8 Dec 2008 | 9:30 pm

A heartwarming 'Home' returns to off-Broadway (AP)

AP - For a critic anyway, "heartwarming" can be the scariest adjective. But don't let the word — highly appropriate in this case — deter you from visiting "Home," Samm-Art Williams' deeply felt memory play.

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 8 Dec 2008 | 9:21 pm

'Slava's Snowshow' brightens Broadway (AP)

AP - The Great White Way just got a fresh dusting of snow — all the way from Russia and just in time for the holidays.

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 8 Dec 2008 | 9:20 pm

The Emotionally Detached Trust-Funder–Editor

Once a week, Daily Intel takes a peek at what your friends and neighbors are doing behind doors left slightly ajar. Today, the Emotionally Detached Trust-Funder–Editor: 23, female, Upper East Side, straight, single.

DAY ONE
12:45 p.m.: I meet up with a college friend and her boyfriend. They ask me to go to a jazz show with them. Her boyfriend says he's bringing one of his frat brothers so that I won't look like a third wheel.
7 p.m.: En route to show, contemplate my last boyfriend, a suit with a penis. I ended it abruptly six months ago after the realization that he was good for two things, sex and cooking spaghetti. He didn't take it well. He's currently laid off from a finance job, which makes me feel bad.
7:15 p.m.: I arrive late to bar even though I live across the street. Frat Boy is hideous and has a soul patch. A young Howie Mandel. I'm turned off completely. I realize that coming alone to these things is fine.
8:30 p.m.: I start drinking shots of Jack Daniels to avoid Frat Boy.

10:35 p.m.: Meet mildly famous actor at jazz show! Tipsy.
11:30 p.m.: Making out in corner booth with Mildly Famous Guy.
1:30 a.m.: We have good porn sex twice at his apartment in Chelsea. He kisses me good night and says that I should stay over. Not really sure what to think about being asked to stay. Seemed a little boyish, but I'm not about to resist these epic high-thread-count sheets of his.

DAY TWO
11:30 a.m.: He wakes me up with a kiss, and I am slightly weirded out. He is sweet, but then again I am the most emotionally detached woman in the history of New York.
11:45 a.m.: We shower together and go at it in and out of the shower. For some reason, I'm thinking about a dirty version of a Slip 'N Slide the whole time. Weird.
1:30 p.m.: He puts me in a cab back to my apartment and gives me an inappropriate kiss good-bye. This is when I begin to ponder if it was a One-Nighter or a potential Multi-Nighter.
3 p.m.: On the way to get groceries and liquor, I see group of prep-school boys. One's a Nate Archibald wannabe. I have filthy thoughts of hot schoolgirl sex. I feel like a cougar at 23.

DAY THREE
10:15 a.m.: Facebook friend request from Frat Boy. Decline.
12:30 p.m.: I'm out at lunch with hot co-workers. I hate everyone in this office and don't know why I'm working here when I should be living off my rich parents like the rest of my friends. My office fantasies never go beyond copier sex. And that's how I want it.
9 p.m.: Mildly Famous Guy picks me up at my apartment. I maul him in the cab on the way to the restaurant. His hands go up my dress, but we stop before it gets too hot.
11:20 p.m.: Back at my apartment for adult beverages.
Midnight: Adult activities continue, we break a lamp and he snaps my thong off, athletic sex continues. Definitely a Multi-Nighter.

DAY FOUR
8:30 a.m.: I think about kicking out Mildly Famous Guy so I can act like I'm doing something productive. Instead I kiss him good-bye and let him sleep.
9:45 a.m.: On my way to work, I send him an innuendo-filled text about why I had to leave for work. He texts back almost instantly and says that he'll be filming for the next few days, so expect something big at the end of the week. I'm giddy and intensely horny.
6 p.m.: I decide to raid my parents' fridge for quality food and booze. I see the mildly famous guy on TV. My inner fangirl comes out.

DAY FIVE
10 a.m.: I have a beyond-boring day at the office and spend most of the day ordering clothes and shoes off the Internet. God, I love having a trust fund.
9:45 p.m.: I have a super-awkward run-in with the little sister of a kid from my old prep school. It's weird that she remembers me. She also got sort of fat. I didn't, however.
11:50 p.m.: At a bar. Get hit on by a 50-year-old. I give him the number of my fat gay friend and decide to call it a night. I can't wait for the profanity-filled voice mail I will receive from the friend later.

DAY SIX
10:30 a.m.: A co-worker says something ridiculous about how he knows his way around a toolbox, and I can't decipher whether it's a pass at me or he's just a meathead. Tool.
6 p.m.: Mildly Famous Guy calls me and tells me to meet him tomorrow at noon in some weird Alice in Wonderland–themed restaurant. I'm sort of creeped out by his cuteness. But then again, he must get all his lines from the show he works on. TV-set-fantasy thoughts are peaking.

DAY SEVEN
Noon: We meet outside this Alice in Wonderland thing and eat and talk. Well, he talks.
2:30 p.m.: Afternoon Delight to the fullest extent. In the daylight I realize that he has a roommate who lives on the other side of the apartment. I wonder how much money TV people really make if they need a roommate in an okay apartment.
6:30 p.m.: He makes a comment about dinner, so we dress again and head out. I'm always eating or drinking in his company. I hope he thinks I'm in it to win it, not just for food. And by it, I mean sex.
10:30 p.m.: After dinner we go back to my apartment and just make out/touch everywhere. I kiss him good-bye and tell him I have things to do (this!). I'm smitten, mostly for the pleasurable things he does, but him too.

Totals: Zero acts of masturbation; five acts of intercourse with mildly famous actor; one bad setup; one raiding of rich parental refrigerator for date supplies.

Filed Under: sex diaries

Source: Daily Intel | 8 Dec 2008 | 9:15 pm

A Betamax Xmas Will Serve All Your Retro Kitschy Holiday Needs

Are you in need of an injection of holiday spirit but can't want to wait for the networks to program another masterpiece from the Rankin/Bass oeuvre for you? If so, we suggest clicking over to A Betamax Xmas, where you'll find a wondrous, rotating assortment of eighties-era holiday kitsch —everything from Cher guesting on Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas to ALF's Special Christmas— all framed as YouTube insets on a television that comes complete with rabbit ears and snowy reception. Fire up the hot chocolate! [A BetaMaXmas via Metafilter]

Read more posts by Mark Graham

Filed Under: ALF, Christmas, Holidays, Kitsch

Source: Vulture | 8 Dec 2008 | 9:14 pm

Britney Spears Contemplates Breast Reduction; Brooklyn Smells Like Antonio Banderas

Britney Spears

PLASTIC SURGERY
• Britney Spears on her breasts: "At the moment I hate them. I want them smaller … I'm tempted to have a breast reduction so I can slink into some amazing stage outfits for my next set of shows. I know they look sexy but sometimes they get in the way." [Daily Mail via Jezebel]

FRAGRANCE
• Coty Inc., a fragrance company that's no stranger to celebrity scents, will now distribute Antonio Banderas's scent. [WWD]

• Speaking of Antonio Banderas, early reviews of Bond No. 9's new Brooklyn scent claim to evoke thoughts of the Latin (ex-?) stud. You may now continue not ever thinking about him. [Blogdorf Goodman]

MAKEUP
• Courteney Cox really shouldn't have worn her hair messy with bright-red lipstick. [Beauty Snob]

SKIN
• Deodorant gets exciting: Sure and Dove will launch new products that promise to slow hair growth. Maybe Beyoncé will be their spokeswoman. [Jezebel]

Read more posts by Sharon Clott

Filed Under: britney spears, courteney cox, fragrance, makeup, plastic surgery, skin

Source: The Cut | 8 Dec 2008 | 9:05 pm

Watches Wage War On Andy Rooney’s Wrist Hairs

Week in, week out, frail windbag Andy Rooney dons his best 3-day-old shirts and is inexplicably given a glorious few minutes on CBS' 60 Minutes to tell us what's on his mind. (His mind, it should be noted, resembles a bowl of Quaker Oats Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal heated in the microwave for 60 seconds too long.) This week, the subject of Rooney's stale ire is watches. As in WRISTWATCHES. It's a segment about how people really care a whole lot about watches. Whatever you do, do not mistake Rooney for a fancy man. Nope -- he's a man who likes a cheap watch, leather strap, face facing down, big numbers, no diamonds. Rooney doesn't like metal bands at all. The music kind or the rip his wrist hairs out kind. Watch it here. You will hug your young, functioning brain afterwards.
Source: Best Week Ever | 8 Dec 2008 | 9:04 pm

‘Dexter’: So, That Happened …

Is it considered a spoiler if you reveal a plot detail that everyone saw coming for weeks and weeks? If so, um, spoiler alert, because DEXTER KILLS MIGUEL.

And with that, season three comes to a close. Wait? What? There’s still one episode? That’s right, and the finale promises to center on the one event no one wants to see: Dexter and Rita’s wedding! Will they serve steak — or fish? And how does Dexter’s code apply to a wedding D.J. who plays the “Chicken Dance” three times in a row?

We hate to say it, but this season is limping toward the finish line. Even last week’s big cliffhanger — Dexter’s been kidnapped by the Skinner! — turned out to be a tease. Dexter’s been kidnapped — by Masuka! All the better for Dexter to party on the party boat while thinking of ways to dispatch Miguel, his former BFF. Which he later does. So, yeah. That happened.

As for other developments in this penultimate episode — well, are there any, really? Miguel skulks around looking like he might kill LaGuerta, but then doesn’t. The Skinner is cornered by Deb and Quinn, but gets away. Angel, he’s still in love with his new lady friend. Dexter’s last big challenge is figuring out how to dispose of Miguel’s body. Um, the Skinner is still running around. And of course, there’s the wedding.

The real question isn’t what happens now, but what happens next? What’s become clear this year is that Michael C. Hall is (a) delivering arguably the best performance on TV, and (b) may have finally outgrown the tight parameters of this high-concept show. The déjà vu quality of this season (and, really, wasn’t the Miguel story line essentially just Lila with a mustache?) might not just be a creative hiccup; maybe the show about a serial killer who kills other killers just doesn’t have anywhere else to go.

Our fear is that Dexter marries Rita in the finale, and then next season is all about how he has to deal with life as a hitched serial killer — and who wants to watch that every week? Dexter’s always been a show that wraps up each season in a bow. This year’s finale, though, better deliver some surprises. So far, there have been far too few.

Read more posts by Adam Sternbergh

Filed Under: dexter, overnights, tv

Source: Vulture | 8 Dec 2008 | 9:02 pm

All My Sons, The Seagull Defy Broadwaypocalypse, Fail to Lose Money

We interrupt our regularly scheduled reporting of Broadway closings to bring you … good news. Yes, crazy, we know, but Playbill reports today that both All My Sons and The Seagull have recouped their investments. That's right: They didn't lose money. We're sorry for ever doubting Katie Holmes, and we apologize for startling anyone with this shocking announcement. [Playbill, Playbill]

Read more posts by Lori Fradkin

Filed Under: all my sons, the seagull, theater, yay!

Source: Vulture | 8 Dec 2008 | 8:57 pm

SAG sets second town hall meeting

Front Page: Guild schedules strike meeting in New York -- Amid growing worries about an actors strike, leaders of the Screen Actors Guild have been amping up their campaign to persuade its members to endorse a work stoppage.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 8 Dec 2008 | 8:56 pm

`The Reader' is high-minded but emotionally cool (AP)

AP - As in 2002's "The Hours," director Stephen Daldry and screenwriter David Hare's last pairing, "The Reader" has the flawless production values and sheen of prestige that make it easy to admire, yet an emotional detachment that makes it difficult to embrace fully.
Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 8 Dec 2008 | 8:56 pm

Abercrombie Refuses to Discount, Stock Plunges

Music: uhn-ts, uhn-ts, uhn-ts, uhn-tsss...

Eight years ago, Abercrombie & Fitch was the bee's knees of discreetly sexy casualwear. Overpriced sandblasted jeans and button-up plaid shirts were boxed up and put under the tree (or menorah) of any 16-year-old with a Suburban in the driveway. Those were the good, pre-recession, naked-models-riding-horses-in-catalogues days. But now Abercrombie is suffering much worse than its competitors, like American Eagle, in the economic downturn. Though the competition is discounting prices to get consumers to shop, Abercrombie has kept its prices the same because they don't want to look cheap. The Wall Street Journal reports:

Wall Street has begun to question the soundness of Abercrombie's no-discount pledge. The stock has tumbled nearly 80% from its January high of around $80, in part because of the pricing strategy. Some analysts now rate the stock a "sell."

"We hear your concerns," said Chairman and Chief Executive Michael Jeffries in an earnings call with analysts last month, but "promotions are a short-term solution with dreadful long-term effects." Marking down clothes now could lead to the brand being seen as something cheap, he explained.

Some analysts applaud Abercrombie's stamina, but others note that they might have to relent and lower prices if the recession continues for another six months. Abercrombie's customer base tells the Journal that Abercrombie doesn't fit into their new thrifty lifestyles. Even the topless models on the walls, "nightclub lighting," and (horrible) thumping club music can't override the economic climate:

[T]he store's image isn't enough to lure Megan Tysoe, 20, who says she and her friends skip Abercrombie for cheaper chains like Forever 21 and H&M. "Some of my roommates' parents have decreased their allowances," causing less spending, she says.

Horrors. Maybe they'd swing by if Abercrombie started handing out the catalogues for free again. We would at least think about going down to the Seaport to get one.

Abercrombie Fights Discount Tide [WSJ]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: 'tis the season to be broke, abercrombie & fitch, economy, retail

Source: The Cut | 8 Dec 2008 | 8:31 pm

Tribune Bankruptcy Official

Just today, as anticipated, Tribune Company owner Sam Zell filed for bankruptcy for major parts of his media empire. Still plowing ahead without restructuring will be the Chicago Cubs franchise (which includes Wrigley Field). Zell's affected television stations and newspapers — which include the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Hartford Courant, the Baltimore Sun, and the Orlando Sentinel — still have cash for the short term and will continue operating, and employees' health care and 401(k)s are safe for now. At the foot of the press release announcing the Chapter 11 filing, there's a little note, "About the Tribune Company." "At Tribune we take what we do seriously and with a great deal of Pride," it reads. "We also value the creative spirit and are nurturing a corporate culture that doesn't take itself too seriously." We assume that was just cut-and-pasted from an outdated template.

Read more posts by Chris Rovzar

Filed Under: chicago cubs, chicago tribune, ink-stained wretches, los angeles times, media, media deathwatch, newspapers, sam zell, tribune co, wrigley field

Source: Daily Intel | 8 Dec 2008 | 8:30 pm

Artist Marianne Vitale Pitches a Tent in Hell

Marianne Vitale's Hut Immolation Ballad for the Hurled (2008).

Appropriately enough for an Art Basel Miami season seemingly balanced on the yawning maw of apocalypse, one of the standout works on display was a vision of making a new home in hell. Shown in IBID Project's booth at the upstart New Art Dealer's Alliance (NADA) fair, Lower East Side artist Marianne Vitale's mixed-media sculpture and drawings told the story of an angel, cast into the underworld, contemplating its new predicament. Here, its temporary shelter is a symbol of lean yet creative times to come. Blasted with black paint and rigged with found materials from the Dumpsters of certain famous artists, cow femurs, and an animated video of the angel's mind-set, it sends a shiver down your spine and a tingle down your leg. Hey, it's all about being damned in style, right?

Read more posts by Andrew Goldstein

Filed Under: art candy, marianne vitale

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

Viola Davis’s Acting Strategy

Actress Viola Davis at last night's New York premiere of Doubt: "I just went into it feeling like I didn't want to suck playing a scene with Meryl Streep. That's it. That was my biggest goal." And a noble one! Watch our Party Lines slideshow for more from the premiere, including Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams.

Read more posts by Helin Jung

Filed Under: doubt, party lines, viola davis

Source: Daily Intel | 8 Dec 2008 | 8:28 pm

Christmas cartoon has 'Little' to offer (Reuters)

Reuters - Although NBC hopes we remember its new animated "Little Spirit" holiday special for its contemporary video-game-style look and family-friendly story of a boy in search of his lost dog, other things come to mind:
Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 8 Dec 2008 | 8:19 pm

New management structure at NBC

Front Page: Network unveils merged network-studio setup -- It was Black Monday at NBC, as the Peacock plucked several key execs and unveiled a new management structure.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 8 Dec 2008 | 8:12 pm

5 Ways To Restore Playboy To Its Former Glory

Christie Hefner, daughter of Hugh Hefner, is stepping down as president and CEO of Playboy enterprises after nearly 30 years. "Playboy" doesn't carry the same exclusive cachet it used to, possibly because of the failing economy, possibly because anyone can go on the internet and find endless amounts of the hardest hardcore porn in existence within seconds completely for free thus making the magazine totally obsolete, but as a loyal Playboy reader in the days before internet and my household getting Cinemax, I've come up with a list of Five Ways for the New Playboy CEO To Restore The Magazine To Glory.
1) More Airbrushing The current cover models aren't flawless enough; people only like to look at perfect things, so airbrush them even more to make them look actually perfect, not mostly perfect:
2) Corner The Softcore Market You're not going to keep up with the hardcore internet, Playboy, so instead just play to your strengths and dominate the softcore porn industry by making your core even more soft:
3) More Cartoons According to a statistic I probably didn't just made up, 82% of Playboy readers immediately flip to the cartoons. Playboy cartoons are hilarious and point out truths about men. We sure love sex, don't we guys am I right???????!!!!!!!!!!!1!
4) Cancel Playboy.com; Quadruple Size Of Issues If people want free porn they can acquire instantly and anonymously, they'll use the internet. People buy Playboy because they want to be seen in convenience stores and newsstands declaring to the world "I like to pay for a couple monthly pictures of boobs and I don't care who knows it!" Reach out to your customer base by canceling your entire online presence and making the issues more conspicuous and hard to carry:
5) Get Miley Cyrus Naked Actually naked, I mean, not fake Vanity Fair shoot naked. You know what? Ignore the previous four suggestions, just do this and you're set.
Source: Best Week Ever | 8 Dec 2008 | 8:10 pm

‘Californication’: Less Sex, More Death

In "Blues From Laurel Canyon," Mia celebrates the release of the book she stole from Hank, Becca learns what it is to love and lose, Charlie destroys his marriage, and Ashby atones for Hank's sins.

Family
Almost-stepdaughter Mia wakes Hank up by fondling him and reading from the New York Times' rave review of their book. And the day goes downhill from there, culminating in Ashby hosting Mia's book party. Hank finally feels validated as a writer again but can't take credit, and Karen hasn't even bothered reading the book. Rolling Stone's Anika has, and she recognizes Hank — not as the secret literary stylist, but the book's older man. Luckily, Ashby is willing to take the fall by bedding Anika and declaring himself the underage-chasing old perv.

Karen has permitted rock-star-awed Becca and her boyfriend to attend the party — but they catch him kissing another girl. The best mom can come up with? "Trusting someone doesn't make you a loser." That must be Karen's mantra. Becca locks herself in the bathroom and won't come out. Luckily, Ashby is able to offer up backstage passes to get her to open the door, and to make her feel better by gazing in her eyes and telling her she's magic.

Marcy is back from rehab, but Charlie is working on a 90-day plan to rid himself of her and take up with Daisy. Family-values Hank forbids it, but Charlie's plan accelerates as Daisy shows up at the book party with Vaginatown's director. Marcy's delight at being reunited with her porn-star quasi-daughter sours when a jealous Charlie freaks out, telling the director that Daisy's out of porn — and announcing that he's leaving Marcy for her. A vicious girl fight ensues, drawing in half the party before Hank breaks up the mêlée with a shotgun. The blast takes out a chandelier that nearly hits Ashby; Hank pushes him out of the way, saving him one last time.

But the catfight isn't even the episode's climax — Janie Jones makes a surprise appearance. She's looking for Hank, but Hank does the right thing and fetches Ashby, who's frozen with fear — he's done too much to this woman to face her. Hank persuades Ashby to adopt his central article of faith: If she loves him, she'll forgive everything. Ashby pauses for a fortifying line of coke … and then collapses. Hank jabs him with the EpiPen, but, no, it's not a drug allergy, and it looks like Hank is not going to save the man this time.

Fornication
No one got laid this episode. Will next week's season finale offer a sexy conclusion, or will everything just continue to unravel?

Read more posts by Kristal Hawkins

Filed Under: californication, overnights, tv

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

EXCLUSIVE: Abdul Opens Up on Fan Suicide

Paula Abdul says contestant suicide "tragic," but judges won't ease criticism.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 8 Dec 2008 | 8:00 pm

Spotted: Miss $10,000 a Day at Freemans

It takes a lot to tear us away from a Freemans brunch (yes, we're the type of fashion gal who eats), but this past weekend our eyes were riveted not on our cheese grits but on the woman across the way from us: Miss Linda Evangelista. Hair short, earrings long, skin so luminous we swore she just came from a shoot. We couldn't identify the man she was with, but amen, the supers are indeed back.

Read more posts by Amina Akhtar

Filed Under: linda evangelista, Model Tracker

Source: The Cut | 8 Dec 2008 | 7:53 pm

'Valkyrie' to open Christmas Day

Front Page: UA/MGM's thriller is one of five wide releases -- United Artists/MGM's Tom Cruise Nazi thriller "Valkyrie" will open on Christmas Day instead of Dec. 26, so the pic can benefit from the traditional uptick in moviegoing on Christmas night.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 8 Dec 2008 | 7:53 pm

Lou Lumenick Spoils Surprise Ending of Seven Pounds

The marketers behind Will Smith's upcoming top-secret Seven Pounds certainly have their work cut out for them — to give away the film's premise is to ruin its surprise ending, allegedly, which is why the trailer reveals nothing and posters for the movie carry the meaningless tagline "Seven Names. Seven Strangers. One Secret." So, they can thank New York Post critic Lou Lumenick for spoiling everything in his discussion with fellow Post critic Kyle Smith on the year's best movies yesterday. [NYP via Hollywood Elsewhere]

Read more posts by Lane Brown

Filed Under: lou lumenick, movies, ranters and ravers, seven pounds, will smith

Source: Vulture | 8 Dec 2008 | 7:38 pm

'Housewives' cleans up in ratings

Front Page: ABC show a standout on Sunday -- Football helped Fox and NBC to strong deliveries on Sunday but ABC's "Desperate Housewives" appears to be the night's top-rated program in key demos. TNT, meanwhile, drew a sizable audience for its premiere of the drama "Leverage."

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 8 Dec 2008 | 7:23 pm

Kate Winslet Delivers 2008’s Best Performance, and Other Culture Highlights From This Week’s New York

In this week's issue of New York, we look back on 2008's best films, theater, art, TV, architecture, books, pop, and classical music. Also, we shame those responsible for the year's worst cultural offerings and remember the past twelve months in a mega-size Approval Matrix.

Read more posts by Lane Brown

Filed Under: in the magazine

Source: Vulture | 8 Dec 2008 | 7:15 pm

OMFG: Saxophone Walrus Takes On “Baker Street”

Name the one thing in the world BWE.tv loves more than the infamous Turkish Walrus playing saxophone? Answer? Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street." And now, friends, prepare for your brains to explode out of your head:
This video is to mash-ups what the Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremonies were to organized dance. (With endless gratitude to video creators Jess Rotter and Zach Cowie.)
Source: Best Week Ever | 8 Dec 2008 | 7:15 pm

Paula Abdul selling `American Idol' gifts on HSN (AP)

AP - They might not go home with a recording contract, but Paula Abdul doesn't let any "American Idol" contestant leave empty-handed. Each season she designs and distributes jewelry for the aspiring singers as a keepsake of their experience.

Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 8 Dec 2008 | 7:12 pm

See Karl Lagerfeld’s Silent Film in Its Entirety

Karl Lagerfeld opened his pre-fall 2009 Chanel show last week with a ten-minute silent short film about Coco Chanel — his directorial debut! Last week we brought you the trailer, but now, if you really want to kill ten minutes, you can watch the whole thing with English subtitles. “Today, people are ready for silent movies again, as they spend time — hours, I would say — looking at text messages and e-mails,” Karl told WWD. Watch and contemplate if your e-mail has in fact properly primed you. [Fashionologie]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: chanel, coco puffs, karl lagerfeld, movies

Source: The Cut | 8 Dec 2008 | 7:10 pm

CAPTION THIS: Despereaux Seeking Emma

Emma Watson isn't at all uncomfortable with this dude in a mouse costume at the premiere of The Tale of Despereaux. I'm actually kind of freaked out by the dead, frozen stare of the mouse. Like he has never touched a woman (a freakishly skinny one, at that) and just, well, you know...j*zzed in his pants.
Source: Best Week Ever | 8 Dec 2008 | 7:05 pm

Who Should Score an Oscar Nod?

Which film of 2008 is most deserving of an Academy Award nomination?
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 8 Dec 2008 | 6:37 pm

Jessica Alba’s Waist, Hips Whittled in Campari Ads

Jessica Alba stars in the 2009 Campari calendar, shot by Mario Testino. Unretouched images from the shoot surfaced on the Internet. And lo! Dramatic retouching hath occurred. Surprising, we know. As you can see, Alba's hips and waist were whittled down, her cleavage was enhanced, and her makeup was punched up. We think she looks plenty slim on the left, especially since the girl had a baby just five months ago. We don't often see the before-and-after pictures for stuff like this, but dramatic retouching isn't uncommon in print ads. Judging by the positioning of Alba's knees in these shots, these are either different frames or Alba's head was Photoshopped onto a model's body. Notice the knee caps on the right? Retouchers usually erase those instead of adding them in. Regardless of what exactly they did here, it just goes to show how fake all these images are. These bodies aren't real! Now we just have to get down to the business of why Alba's shilling Campari in the first place.

She may be one of the most beautiful women in the world... but that doesn't stop Jessica Alba from getting airbrushed [Daily Mail via HuffPo]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: advertising, campari, fake bodies, jessica alba, mario testino, photoshopping

Source: The Cut | 8 Dec 2008 | 6:24 pm

Hot Actor: Q&A With "Twilight" Star Robert Pattinson

"There's only so much adoration you can take" How is the Twilight fandom is different from the Harry Potter movies? I think you've mentioned that the sound of the screams is even different. It's different because I think it's almost solely females of a certain age group, and they have a very specific tone. It's much more to do with the sort of sexuality aspect of it. So many girls made this guy [their ideal], so when they see you it's like all of their energy is projected onto you. It's a really strange experience. I've never been in an...

Source: Rolling Stone: Features | 8 Dec 2008 | 5:59 pm

J*zz In My Pants is Jazziest J*zz Jam of 2008

If you're an 8th grader like myself, then perhaps you were lucky enough to catch the following SNL Digital Short live at 12:40 am on Saturday night, "J*zz In My Pants". The short features regular player Andy Samberg and SNL writer/Project Runway's Jeffrey Sebelia lookalike Jorma Taccone, both looking fly as ever, picking up models at clubs and former Sopranos stars at supermarkets as per usual. The only problem? As you will so explicitly see... they tend to prematurely j*zz their pants. To a seriously hot beat, no less. No, really: If this song didn't say the word j*zz so much, it would have the potential of being a serious club hit, and dare I say one of my trademarked Top Jams of 2008. But because using the word j*zz and "jam" in the same sentence is not only crude but, dare I say, unladylike, I'll keep things as clean as a bedside kleenex: "J*zz In My Pants" is this winter's "D*ck in a Box". Watch and Discuss. Did anyone else find their j*zz faces endearing and almost hot? Only me. Mmmmbye. And Y208 ALERT: You can now say j*zz on TV! Even though we have to asterisk the sh*t out of it on the blog, we'll throw out an Amen for open-mindedness.
Source: Best Week Ever | 8 Dec 2008 | 5:52 pm

The Mouse That Roared: Rodent Fun at "The Tale of Despereaux" Premiere (Fashion Wire Daily)

Fashion Wire Daily - When actor Matthew Broderick left his wife Sarah Jessica Parker and his young son James back in New York and headed for Hollywood to attend the gala premiere of his new animated feature "The Tale of Despereaux," he had to carefully explain where he was going. Not to Sarah, of course, but to 6-year-old James.

Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 8 Dec 2008 | 5:29 pm

PHOTOS: When Stars Have a Bad Day

Ben Affleck appears to be letting age get the best of him.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 8 Dec 2008 | 5:28 pm

La Scala's 'Don Carlo' fails to excite (AP)

AP - Critics' reaction to the gala premiere at La Scala can be summed up in one word: Boring.

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 8 Dec 2008 | 5:26 pm

Christie Hefner to Resign from Playboy

Hugh Hefner's daughter is stepping down as chairman and chief executive.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 8 Dec 2008 | 4:53 pm

FOX 411: Lindsay Lohan ' Nuzzles' Sean Penn at 'Milk' Party

Lindsay Lohan likes Milk. Anyway, she likes the star of Gus van Sant's longish take on the life and times of gay activist Harvey Milk.
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Dec 2008 | 4:24 pm

Keane Strips Down With Jon Brion In L.A.

U.K. rock act Keane was joined by producer Jon Brion on stage last night (Dec. 7) for several songs during its 14-song set at the Largo Theater in West Hollywood.

Source: Billboard.com | 8 Dec 2008 | 4:23 pm

Take That, Leona Lewis Rule U.K. Charts

Take That's "The Circus" (Polydor/Universal) gave the latter-day boy band another U.K. No. 1 album yesterday with a massive opening sales total of 432,000. Leona Lewis' cover of Snow Patrol's "Run" (Syco Music/Sony BMG) went straight to the top of the singles chart, becoming the fastest-selling download in British chart history, with 133,000 copies.

Source: Billboard.com | 8 Dec 2008 | 4:21 pm

WATCH: Barbra Streisand Kisses Bush?!

Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 8 Dec 2008 | 4:05 pm

Recession Realities Hit the Small Screen

From "All My Children" to "Ugly Betty," recession rears its head in TV plots.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 8 Dec 2008 | 3:52 pm

Christie Hefner to Step Down As Playboy CEO

Playboy Enterprises says Christie Hefner, the daughter of founder Hugh Hefner, is stepping down as chairman and chief executive.
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Dec 2008 | 3:40 pm

Meryl Streep Rules Again at the "Doubt" Premiere (Fashion Wire Daily)

Fashion Wire Daily - She has been in our cinematic life seemingly forever, with 14 Academy Award nominations and two wins, and at 59 years old is ancient by Hollywood standards for female stars. At that age, she is supposed to go quietly out to pasture and let the teenagers take over.

Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 8 Dec 2008 | 3:39 pm

Australia First to Award Ledger for Joker

Will Oscar follow Australian film industry's posthumous acting award for Ledger?
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 8 Dec 2008 | 3:35 pm

'Harry Potter's' Emma Watson Reveals Nude Ambitions

Emma Watson says she is at that strange age when she’s “not a woman yet, but I’m not a girl anymore.”
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Dec 2008 | 3:27 pm

Lady Sovereign Starts Label, Preps Album

U.K. rapper Lady Sovereign has inked a global deal with EMI for her own Midget Records imprint, and will release her new album, "Jigsaw," on April 9. A new track, "I Got You Dancing," is available for free on the artist's MySpace site.

Source: Billboard.com | 8 Dec 2008 | 3:22 pm

'Ralphies,' leg lamp fans keep film thriving

It has been 25 years since "A Christmas Story" arrived in movie theaters. Of all the films to depict the giddy anticipation of the holidays, it's the only one to inspire a cable marathon, a booming leg lamp industry and fans who dress up in pink bunny suits.
Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 8 Dec 2008 | 3:21 pm

Big and Rich Singer John Rich Weds in Nashville

Country singer John Rich of the duo Big and Rich married his girlfriend Joan Bush in Nashville Saturday, People magazine is reporting.
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Dec 2008 | 1:52 pm

Streisand, Bush Share Awkward Smooch

Kennedy Center Awards bring Streisand and Bush together.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 8 Dec 2008 | 12:42 pm

Jessica Biel 'Thankful' For Her Face and Body

Actress tells British GQ how important looks are in Hollywood. Um, duh!
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Dec 2008 | 11:49 am