It was actually the last thing on my mind. I had wanted to go to design school since I was young, but not necessarily fashion. I went to Parsons and explored different things, such as design and pattern cutting and then shoe design, and realized it came naturally to me. Admittedly my grandfather's great understanding of craftsmanship and quality has really influenced my mentality towards design.

From where do you source your materials? Is it hard to get access to good resources as a younger label?
I source everything from Italy, all my leather. When you start out, you want to make a mark, and one of the biggest challenges was getting access to good materials.

What is the inspiration behind your designs? How would you describe your direction or aesthetic?
I don't really think in terms of inspiration. For me it's all about "the new" — new materials, new textures. My creations are very forward. It's an edgy aesthetic, very strong, very sexy, very modern.

What type of woman wears Alejandro Ingelmo shoes?
She is a modern woman. She is not the type to be at home cleaning and cooking! She has a powerful position in the world.

What's in your future?
To keep on. I have just started doing bags — a small collection of clutches for spring/summer, which will develop into a full bag range.

What trends right now do you like?
I don't follow trends, but if anything, I like what's going on with women's fashion. The boxy shapes and the extremes — as seen at Gareth Pugh. I think it's where we are moving towards.

What trends do you wish would just go away?
Prints. I think they are just a way of disguising bad fabrics. I love to see the use of bold color and good fabric and stitching.

What do you think every woman should have in her wardrobe?
You know what I am going to say! A good pair of shoes!

Which designers do you wear yourself?
Dior Homme, Tim Hamilton shirts, my own shoes. I actually just bought a Dior Homme suit for the CFDA because I didn't own one!

What is the one item you can't live without?
Starbucks coffee, my BlackBerry!

Read more posts by Davina Catt

Filed Under: alejandro ingelmo, cfda vogue fashion fund, footwear, shoes, tastemakers

Source: The Cut | 30 Dec 2008 | 11:03 pm

DMX Cuts a Deal on Dog, Drug, Theft Charges

Perhaps DMX has seen the error of his ways and is looking to make a fresh start in 2009. Just in time to make New Year's resolutions, the oft-arrested rapper has cut a deal in his...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 30 Dec 2008 | 10:42 pm

Kyra and Kevin Victims of Madoff Investment Scandal

Kevin Bacon must be wondering what happened to those other five degrees. It turns out that the actor and his Golden Globe-nominated missus, Kyra Sedgwick, are among the Hollywood types...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 30 Dec 2008 | 10:35 pm

The New Etiquette of Bank Robbery

As the season of giving trickles to a close, the season of taking arrived Monday when five banks in the New York City area were robbed. With tough economic times come an increase in bank robberies, and heists in the city are up 54 percent this year.

John Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde didn’t rob banks because they wanted to be notorious. They robbed banks because they lived during the Great Depression, and they were hungry and scared and worried about where the funds would come from to cover their next bar bill. Such is the state of our economy that the next Jesse James and Baby Face Nelson are due to shine.

But there’s no reason this Great Depression can’t be even Greater than the last one — not to mention more civilized. That’s why we’re suggesting an etiquette policy whereby those who need to rob banks can do so without resorting to poor taste.

1. Absolutely no robbing of banks on Mondays. Like Seacrest on New Year’s Eve, Mondays are something we, as a species, must endure as painlessly as possible until Gossip Girl airs. There are four other perfectly rob-able days in a workweek. Hello, Wednesday? That bitch has "plunder me" written all over it.

2. Once inside the bank, always hand the teller a note. We realize it’s cliché, but in this era of e-mail and text messaging, there’s just something charming about putting one’s thoughts down on stationery. No monograms necessary, of course.

3. When making a getaway, always use public transportation. “Bank Robbery” is so much more romantic than “9 Dead as Getaway Driver Slams into Starbucks.” If you've got to commit a job in the age of Obama, you might as well make it green collar.

4. Try to rob banks only in the boroughs. Every bank robbery in Manhattan has to be reported on the evening news, whereas it takes five in one day to report on the boroughs. Might we suggest Park Slope, any place in New Jersey, or Park Slope?

5. If you absolutely must rob a bank in Manhattan, steer clear of banks with high tourist traffic. Tourists tend to stare and snap pictures at things they don’t see back home, which could result in a number of botched robberies. Not to mention dead tourists.

6. If you suggest to the teller that you’ve got a gun in your pocket and he or she asks to see it, proper etiquette requires that you show the weapon. If it turns out the teller called your bluff, get the hell out of line and stop wasting everyone’s time. Seriously, we've been there for twenty minutes already.

7. You know what you never see these days? Good footage of bank robberies. You know what you never see ever? Good footage of reality-TV stars, newly arrived to The City, being robbed while filming an episode.

8. Have a plan before you enter the bank. Nothing ruins a day more than a crook who hasn’t thought things through. The best way to strategize is to watch bank-heist movies. Might we suggest Heat, Point Break, Reservoir Dogs (actually a jewel heist), and this timeless scene from Dog Day Afternoon? But not Mad Money, please.

9. Stay close to home. Some of the greatest bank heists in history have been inside jobs, like this guy. Remember, kids — crooks that carry guns get away with hundreds of dollars, but crooks that carry BlackBerrys get away with $50 billion.

10. No do-overs. If you attempt to rob a bank and fail, you can’t decide all willy-nilly to just rob another bank later in the week. Like Brett Favre, Eric Mangini, and the rest of the Jets, you had your chance. Now go get a job like the rest of us. But not our jobs. They don't pay.

Read more posts by Jon Methven

Filed Under: Advice How-to and Miscellaneous, banks, crime, robberies

Source: Daily Intel | 30 Dec 2008 | 10:32 pm

Afternoon Fix: Jennifer Aniston and Pals Take the Party to Mexico

• Jennifer Aniston has landed in Mexico for some New Year's Eve partying. At her side: constant companion Courteney Cox. The besties also brought along Laura...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 30 Dec 2008 | 10:23 pm

Which Celeb New Year's Eve Party Would You Pick?

From L.A. to NYC, celebs like Eva Longoria Parker, Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson, and Ashlee and  Pete are all ringing in the New Year with big blowouts. Here's the scoop on who's...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 30 Dec 2008 | 10:21 pm

YSL Beauté Accused of Discrimination; Peanut M&M’s Kill Allure of Perfume

Dame Edna

MAKEUP
• An ex–YSL Beauté makeup artist is suing the company. He claims he was fired when a heart condition hindered his travel schedule. [WWD]

• M.A.C's new spokesperson. Dame Edna. on her beauty routine: "I sellotape whole tins of sardines to my face at night, attach two squeezed lemon rinds to my armadillo-skinned elbows and put cucumber on my eyes. By the time I'm finished, I look like a fruit salad with added fish … In the morning, the pillow is pretty much a write-off." [Telegraph]

• Here's a list of deals on drugstore makeup. Recession chic blah blah… [Blogdorf Goodman]

FRAGRANCE
• Apparently a peanut M&M — a peanut M&M — will "completely reverse the alluring effect of any perfume/cologne you might have on." What? [Lucky Beauty Blog]

HAIR
• Admit it, you're not really doing any work right now because everyone knows today is an unofficial between-holidays holiday. So you may as well look at a slideshow of Beyoncé's 2008 hair evolution. [BellaSugar]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: beauty, beauty marks, beyonce, dame edna, fragrance, hair, lawsuits, mac, makeup

Source: The Cut | 30 Dec 2008 | 10:17 pm

Say Good-bye to the Mod Catholic Church on Washington Square

Unlike being, say, Unitarian or Buddhist, there is not very much cool about being Catholic. (And we can say that because we are. Or, uh, were.) Which is why we have always loved the early-sixties Catholic Center church on Washington Square Park South, because it looks like where the Jetsons would go for their weekly wafer if they were papal peeps. But now, wouldn't it figure, NYU has arranged to buy it from the Archdiocese of New York for $25 million and build something new there, albeit reportedly not too tall and of an "interfaith" nature. Still ... if Jesus met Mad Men, it'd be here, and over folk hymns. Sad. [Real Deal via Curbed]

Read more posts by Tim Murphy

Filed Under: neighborhood watch, nyu, washington square park

Source: Daily Intel | 30 Dec 2008 | 10:10 pm

Blair Underwood Says Dirty Is Definitely Dead

Dirty Sex Money fans may be hoping to save the ABC show with an online petition, but Blair Underwood says they shouldn't expect to see him or his costars returning to work anytime...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 30 Dec 2008 | 9:44 pm

Lost Premiere Preview: Love Story Spoilers

Sure, sure, the Lost mythology is a miracle to behold. It's grandiose, compelling, gaspworthy and, despite what the haters would have you believe, altogether satisfying, but come on:...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 30 Dec 2008 | 9:39 pm

Take a Gander at Karl Lagerfeld’s Vermont Home in the New Chanel Campaign

Chanel's spring 2009 campaign is out! It stars Heidi Mount, the 21-year-old Salt Lake City native and rising star who also fronts the house's resort ads. Landing the Chanel campaign is like winning a modeling Oscar. For one, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, and Freja Beha have all been there. And the lucky girl gets to live, breathe, and work next to Karl Lagerfeld himself. Mount even got to chill with him at his new house in Vermont where he shot the ads. We're not surprised Mount landed the gig. She opened the label's spring show in October, and just weeks after that, her resort campaign dropped. Lagerfeld also shot the rising star for couture spreads in Harper's Bazaar and Numéro. But we're wondering — is Karl's house really this empty? Where's all the fabulous furniture? Click through to see more from the campaign.

Read more posts by James Lim

Filed Under: campaign trail, chanel, heidi mount

Source: The Cut | 30 Dec 2008 | 9:32 pm

Mia Farrow's Daughter Lark Dies at 35

Lark Previn was sister to Soon-Yi Previn, who married Farrow's ex, Woody Allen.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 30 Dec 2008 | 9:18 pm

A Very Noel Christmas

Yesterday we marveled at the genteel Christmas card Corina Noel Piedrahita, the eldest daughter and business partner of Fairfield Greenwich Group's Walter Noel, now known as the biggest loser in the Madoff scheme, sent to family and friends this holiday season. Corina's brood is, however, just one branch of the family money tree Walter and his wife Monica created, and so we're happy to inform you that today we can show you the Christmas cards the Noel family sent out over the past three years.

Like all Christmas letters that attempt to encapsulate the year, these cards, which we received from an anonymous source, tell you at once everything that happened to the family over this period of time, and yet not enough: We learn that in 2007, both Walter and Corina "stepped back" from the family business, but we don’t know why. We hear Alix and Philip Toub moved back from Brazil — and it sounds like the family was disappointed by that decision. But we can't be sure.

What are sure of is that this is some of the most compelling lifestyle porn we have ever come across. Each holiday poem — oh, did we mention the cards were written in verse? — is like bingeing on an entire issue of Vanity Fair, and the lyrical style has a lulling effect — you can feel the Dominican sun on your shoulders, smell the salty Mustique breeze and the eau de money in the air. Check out the slideshow, and experience the magic of a Noel family Christmas.

Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: alix toub, ariane noel, Good Breeding, marisa noel-brown, monica noel, walter noel

Source: Daily Intel | 30 Dec 2008 | 9:05 pm

Morrissey’s New Ode to Paris: Terrific, Awkward

Is Morrissey rock's Benjamin Button? An old soul in his youth, he sounds more vital with each passing year. "Throwing My Arms Around Paris" — the first single off the forthcoming Years of Refusal, it just made its way to British radio (and the Internet) — is the same urbane, tuneful melancholia that we've come to expect over three decades, compressed into two and a half highly charged minutes. Morrissey embraces the City of Light not for its shopping or Brie, but because, naturally, "only stone and steel accept my love." For the love of Moz, someone give this man a hug!

Download "Throwing My Arms Around Paris": Pretty Much Amazing

Read more posts by Ehren Gresehover

Filed Under: morrissey, music, right-click

Source: Vulture | 30 Dec 2008 | 8:57 pm

Liz Claiborne CEO Sucks It Up and Flies Coach

William "Coach" McComb

Liz Claiborne has been on hard financial times since long before the credit crisis. Company CEO William L. McComb doesn't indulge in luxurious Town Cars and private jets. The Wall Street Journal puts it rather poetically:

At nearly 3 a.m., William L. McComb stands coatless on a chilly airport sidewalk, waiting to collect a rented Volvo. The chief executive of Liz Claiborne Inc. left his midtown Manhattan office about 13½ hours ago, and must lead an important conference call in three hours.

With a corporate jet, "I would have long ago landed and been at my hotel," Mr. McComb says wearily. The boyish-looking executive, who turned 46 Monday, flies nearly 200,000 miles a year, all of them on commercial flights, almost always in coach."

Poor man. We wonder if his staff calls him "Coach Executive Officer" and laughs about it when he's out in a strange cold breeze waiting for his rental car. At least soon enough some other CEOs might start flying coach with him and they can commiserate. Maybe they can even (gasp) carpool.

Claiborne's CEO Crams Into Coach to Cut Costs [WSJ]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: 'tis the season to be broke, liz claiborne, william l. mccomb

Source: The Cut | 30 Dec 2008 | 8:35 pm

Blagojevich Taps Roland Burris to Replace Obama in the Senate

The cable talking heads are having spasms right now, unable to settle on a term for scandal-plagued Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich's decision to appoint former attorney general for Illinois Roland Burris to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the Senate. Leading up to today's just-finished press conference, they toyed with "cojones," "bravado," and even "chesticular fortitude." We'll just say it. The dude has balls. Even though the Illinois legislature and Barack Obama himself begged Blago not to appoint anyone while he was under federal investigation for trying to sell the position, and even though Senate Democrats have announced that they wouldn't seat his nominee in their caucus, he went ahead and did it anyway.

Burris stood beside Blago at the podium, positively beaming throughout the press conference. If there was any question as to whether he had the judgment necessary to take over the Senate seat, it seems to have been answered now. Burris appeared blissfully unaware of any of the insane controversy over accepting the position from Blagojevich. "This is an appointment done by the governor of the state," the 71-year-old attorney explained. "Based on that, I have no relationship with [the seat-selling investigation]." But, dude, you accepted the seat from the man who tried to sell it — isn't that a direct relationship?

"I don't want to hog the limelight," Blagojevich said, when asked about the scandal. "Please don’t allow the allegations against me to taint this good and honest man." He expressed absolute confidence that the Senate would seat Burris. Then, out of the blue, Illinois Representative Bobby Rush joined Blago at the podium to speak on behalf of Burris and extol the virtue of replacing Obama with another African-American.

If it's not clear to you, our minds are officially blown.

Update: Okay, after piecing together the splattered bits of our minds, with the help of Daily Intel political guru Dan Amira, we have some thoughts. First of all, how badly did Blagojevich's attempt to gloss over this move backfire? It's not even that by appointing a seemingly good, well-qualified guy, Blago is acting as though he is innocent. It's that he's minimizing the entire issue. An innocent-but-sane person would recognize that the seat-selling conflict was serious business and would take time to resolve. Naturally one should recuse himself in that situation. But by pretending that it's not even a blip on the reality radar, Blago is only highlighting how out of touch he is. The media will have a field day with this.

Second, it's pretty despicable the way that Blago and Bobby Rush played the race card. Rush challenged Senate Democrats to stand up and say they wouldn't seat an African-American candidate. But the caucus just helped elect the first black president in American history from their own ranks. Of all times, now is perhaps the most obvious one in which they don't have to worry about their multicultural cred. And to try to make this a skin-color issue instead of an integrity one is playing to exactly the kind of race politics the nation successfully avoided during (almost) the entire 2008 presidential election.

Read more posts by Chris Rovzar

Filed Under: early and often, politics, rod blagojevich, roland burris

Source: Daily Intel | 30 Dec 2008 | 8:31 pm

Eliminated Momma’s Boys Contestant Didn’t Even Get a Date!

Congratulations NBC! You've managed to sneak in one of my favorite reality show moments of 2008 right before the buzzer, thanks to the following melee on your so-so dating show Momma's Boys. Meet Cara, one of the many women striving for love (and, in her case, a date) with one of the three eligible men in the house, whose mother's just happen to be tagging along for the highly judgmental ride. For the most part the show is highly uncomfortable to watch: The mothers are pretty stereotypical (the "Jew", the "Cool Mom", and the "Horrible Racist") as are the girls (99 percent of the contestants have appeared in some sort of nude modeling magazine -- a mother's dream!). Each week, the contestant's find out their fate through -- vomiterally -- text message. They either get a "yes", a "see me by the pool", or a "pack your bags and go." Last night, easily the most coked-up ostrich-face of all time, Cara Quici, got the dreaded "not interested" text, meaning she would have to immediately pack up and leave. Her reaction is, as they say, epic. It's good to know that the most annoying people on Planet Earth react exactly as you would expect them to in a time of crisis. SHE DIDN'T EVEN GET A DATE: "All this ABYOOSE and she DIDN'T EVEN GET A DATE?!" Thankfully, she had a racist there to comfort her! Hey, Cara, here's an idea: How about you try getting a date, you know, NOT on national television? It's called Craigslist Casual Encounters (shortcut is herpes.biz), bookmark it gurl. (Shedidn'tevengetadate.)
Source: Best Week Ever | 30 Dec 2008 | 8:30 pm

The Real Reason Behind ABC’s Decision to Give New Life to Scrubs

We can't say that we ever really paid Scrubs that much attention. It's not that we have anything against the show, per se, it's just that we always found ourselves doing something other than watching it when 9 p.m. rolled around each Thursday for the last seven years (Garden State didn't help matters much, either). Sure, we've caught the occasional episode in syndication over the years, but we certainly didn't shed any tears in our beer when the show was unceremoniously dumped by NBC after last year's crippling WGA strike. However, as Brian Stelter of the New York Times reports, the show always had a suitor who was willing to play Dr. Frankenstein and attempt to pump new life into a show suffering from rigor mortis: ABC Entertainment president Steve McPherson.

While ABC has been fairly successful attracting audiences to dramas (Lost, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives), the network hasn't been able to establish a comedy beachfront for years (though we do give them partial credit for green-lighting Cavemen). So when Scrubs became available last spring, head ABC honcho Steve McPherson snapped up the series — a series which, not so coincidentally, he originally developed (and possibly still has a financial stake in) — and gave it new life. All of the principals of the show will be returning for the eighteen-episode run of the show's eighth season, though both Zach Braff and series creator Bill Lawrence have stated that this will be their final season regardless of whether ABC picks up the show for next fall. It remains to be seen if viewers will be able to find the show when it begins airing on January 6 now that it has changed networks, but there is one thing of which we're certain: When 9 p.m. rolls around on Tuesday nights this winter, we'll probably find ourselves doing something other than watching Scrubs.

‘Scrubs,’ Near Death, Is Given a Miracle Cure [NYT]

Read more posts by Mark Graham

Filed Under: ABC, Scrubs, Steve McPherson, Tube Junkie, Zach Braff

Source: Vulture | 30 Dec 2008 | 8:02 pm

New Lonely Island Video: “We Like Sportz”

Here's a sneak preview of one of the songs you'll hear on The Lonely Island's upcoming CD/DVD Incredibad. It's called "We Like Sportz" and it's your typical awkward white man rap video (and is the official sequel to "Just 2 Guyz", which is hilarious especially considering it was made in 2005). Keep an eye out at the 1:34 mark for a very j*zz-in-my-pants Jorma expression. I'm just a girl who likes Lonely Island. I am very much looking forward to Incredibad.
Source: Best Week Ever | 30 Dec 2008 | 8:00 pm

96-Year-Old Editta Sherman Will Have to Be Dragged in Chains From Her Awesome Apartment

Editta Sherman, a 96-year-old portrait photographer, announced back in October that she wouldn't leave her rent-controlled apartment above Carnegie Hall, which the state wants to repurpose for educational facilities, for less than $10 million. Who can blame her? As you can see from the photo, the apartment is amazing, and Editta looks fab in it. Plus, she's lived there for the past half century — as long as Madonna has been alive! — and only pays $530 a month. As her old friend George Gershwin might have said, they can't take that away from her. Or they ought not to.

But today the Post reports that the state has served Editta with an eviction notice. Sure, the paper reports, they offered to relocate residents "to equivalent or superior apartments in the neighborhood, paying any differential in rent for the remainder of their lives."

But is that good enough? No. Because Editta's battle is not just about real estate. It is not about an old lady's right to live out her days in peace. It's not even about standing tall against developers a.k.a. The Man. Editta and her apartment, with its checked floors and cast-iron staircase and grand location, are one of the last beacons of hope for all creative-class New Yorkers. They symbolize the Great New York Dream: That we will someday land the perfect, beautiful, cheap apartment in a great area that we will live in forever. Without that dream, New York wouldn't even have a creative class. We'd all move to Pennsylvania.

Thankfully, Editta knows the importance of her position and is up to the challenge: "I'm never leaving," she told the Post today. "They'll have to drag me out. They'll have to use their bare hands." Shine on, Editta.

Granny is Mad As Hall [NYP]

Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: artists, carnegie hall, editta sherman, freedom fighters, george gershwin, real estate, rent

Source: Daily Intel | 30 Dec 2008 | 7:45 pm

Retailers, Editors Cut Back on the Couture Shows

Dior Couture, Fall 2008

In light of These Economic Times, international retailers are cutting back on their couture diets. Neiman Marcus fashion director Ken Downing and Bergdorf Goodman senior vice-president Linda Fargo told WWD they're skipping the couture shows in Paris, which run from January 26 to 29. Less than a month — get excited with us. Saks Fifth Avenue senior vice-president Joseph Boitano said he'll make a decision about whether to show Saks' face on January 1. Barneys fashion director Julie Gilhart plans to focus on pre-collections when she travels to Europe next month to reduce expenses.

As for editors, Vogue's Anna Wintour will go, obviously, along with Sally Singer and Sarah Mower. (What 5 percent Condé Nast cutbacks?) Elle is sending its market director, and Harper's Bazaar editor Glenda Bailey will go, quite possibly by her lonesome (the magazine wouldn't confirm if someone would go with her). Glamour and Marie Claire aren't sending anybody. And the couture houses are still unable to confirm what attendance levels would be like. We can't believe anyone would give up a seat at a couture show. So, couture publicists, holler if you need some bloggers up in there to fill those seats. We promise to freak out on the inside only.

THE COUTURE PACK — OR NOT [WWD]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: anna wintour, barneys new york, couture, elle, fashion tragedies, glamour, glenda bailey, harpers bazaar, joann pailey, joseph boitano, julie gilhart, ken downing, linda fargo, marie claire, neiman marcus, saks fifth avenue, sally singer, sara mower, vogue

Source: The Cut | 30 Dec 2008 | 7:35 pm

J.Lo And Marc Anthony To Be The Grinches Who Stole Everything

Gatecrasher reports that Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez are getting divorced -- but they're waiting until Valentine's Day to announce it. Thankfully we've been given fair warning or else they could've put a real damper on the only day of the year reserved for celebrating sweet romance. As it turns out, Valentine's Day isn't the only holiday they've planned to ruin. To foil their elaborate scheme of holiday wet-blanketing, we got our hands on an excerpt of Marc and J.Lo's 2009 calendar:

2009 Important Dates Good Friday - April 10 - Eat at Ruby Tuesday 4/20 - April 20 - Premiere anti-marijuana PSA and snitch on stoned college kids Earth Day - April 22 - Scatter six-pack rings in dolphin breeding grounds Arbor Day - April 23 - Drive buzzsaw Battlebot through the rainforest Mother's Day - May 10 - Dangle twin babies over a balcony Independence Day - Star in salsa-fusion musical as Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln Halloween - Wear really unslutty costumes Christmas - Replace all gifts everywhere with copies of El Cantante

Source: Best Week Ever | 30 Dec 2008 | 7:30 pm

Love Her or Hate Her, Spears Stays on Top

USA Today names Britney Spears 2008's hottest celebrity, ahead of Jolie, Pitt.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 30 Dec 2008 | 7:26 pm

CAUGHT BLUE HANDED: Givin’ a Blue Jay In the Park

In what is surely the easiest case the Chicago Police Department has ever come across, a BLUE MAN was caught in the park performing... what's a ladylike way to say this... oral sex on another man at the witching hour, aka 5:45 PM. TMZ Reports:

Cops: Blue Man Tried to Do Man in Public One of the dudes from the Blue Man Group is probably a little red faced this morning after Chicago cops claim they nailed him for allegedly performing oral sex on another man on a park bench...which gives a whole other meaning to Blue Man. Darren Stephens was arrested around 5:45 pm last night after cops say they found him gettin' all Lewinsky-like on a Chicago Park District Property. According to the Chicago Sun Times, the "other man" is an assistant principal at a nearby high school.

Look, it's one thing to give a blew jay in public. It's another thing to do it in the evening while, we assume, you are covered in shiny blue paint. Unless he was using one of their signature "Tubes", in which case, bluenie points for creativity. Somewhere, Tobias on Arrested Development is blueing in his pants.
Source: Best Week Ever | 30 Dec 2008 | 7:24 pm

Panic! at the MTA

Look, somebody found "emo" tagged in actual spray paint on a downtown R train. "I have noticed a higher rate of tags staying up longer and longer of late," writes one blogger, "but I have hope that the subways are returning to the crapper." Blogger, you need to get over your old–New York nostalgia crap; more and more graffiti on the trains is not a good harbinger of anything. And "emo" tagger, whoever you are, you write tragedies, not sins, so please use some kind of water-soluble paint. [Beehive Hairdresser via Curbed]

Read more posts by Tim Murphy

Filed Under: graffiti, mta, neighborhood watch, subways

Source: Daily Intel | 30 Dec 2008 | 7:15 pm

Artist Alan Reid Is Breaking Up the Band

Alan Reid, The Gesture That Broke the Band (2008).

Alan Reid has been busy with his coloring pencils, fashioning majestic women into insipid, sometimes silly situations: bored fashionistas wearing yellow slippers surrounded by headless men; a turbaned beauty sharing her single bed with exotic animals; and here, a despondent bohemian wearing her withering underwear on her head. Reid's coloring is as delicate as his women are elegant; his drawings view like an illustrated version of Eat, Pray, Love. Reid is on show at Lisa Cooley Fine Art through the end of the month.

Read more posts by Emma Pearse

Filed Under: Art Candy

Source: Vulture | 30 Dec 2008 | 7:00 pm

Harold Pinter

Broadway theaters are to dim their lights Tuesday in honor of British dramatist Harold Pinter, seen here in 2007 and who died last week.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 30 Dec 2008 | 6:58 pm

I LIKE TO WATCH: Death Race In 60 Seconds

As an unashamed fan of Transporter 2 and most things in the awful-Statham category, even I watched Death Race In 60 Seconds and thought to myself, "If this came on tv and I was lying on the couch paralyzed with the remote out of reach, I would beg Clint Eastwood's character from Million Dollar Baby to finish me off immediately. I feel like I got the gist of the movie like twenty seconds into this video, the other 40 were just sh*tty gravy. (Little on the violent side, but more or less safe for work):

Source: Best Week Ever | 30 Dec 2008 | 6:50 pm

Daisy Lowe’s Marc by Marc Jacobs Ads Surprisingly Demure

Behold Daisy Lowe's spring 2009 Marc by Marc Jacobs ad, shot by Juergen Teller. We were particularly excited about this casting because as you can see, the circumference of Daisy's limbs leave little confusion as to which are arms and which are legs. We are disappointed, however, that this is decidedly less quirky than Juergen's other Marc ads, like Posh Spice in a paper bag and male model Cole Mohr in drag. But we admit the demure, accessible feel is probably better for the economic climate. Shoppers don't want to be flashy or label-y these days. Also, it's not exactly the best time to dare shoppers to wear your clothes when you can plainly show them that they can.

Daisy Lowe for Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2009 - first photo! [Sassybella]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: advertising, campaign trail, daisy lowe, juergen teller, marc by marc jacobs, models, spring 2009

Source: The Cut | 30 Dec 2008 | 6:42 pm

Who Should Be the Next Jets Coach?

Clockwise from top left: Cowher, Holmgren, Spagnuolo, and Schottenheimer

The Jets have been without a coach for a bit over 24 hours, which is more than enough time for the rumor mill to get going, full force. But do any of the names being mentioned as a replacement for Eric Mangini really make sense for the Jets? A breakdown, after the jump.

Bill Cowher
Landing the biggest name available would go a long way toward making fans forget the 2008 season. Cowher has a Super Bowl ring and a consistent history of winning.
On the other hand: He’s already told the Browns he’s not interested in coaching next year, and he's apparently told the Jets he's not interested in the job if he can't bring in his own personnel director. (GM Mike Tannenbaum isn't likely to be going anywhere.) The thinking was that he might take the Jets job if they offered enough salary, but if that's the case, do you really want a coach taking a job solely because of the money?

Mike Holmgren
He’s well liked, has (famously) never been fired — and he’s taken both teams he coached to a Super Bowl. He won one of those with Brett Favre, so signing him might entice the quarterback to return.
On the other hand: Signing him might entice Brett Favre to return.

Marty Schottenheimer
Sure, his playoff record is terrible, but losing in the first round every year would technically be an improvement. His son, Brian, is the Jets offensive coordinator, and he could bring in his brother Kurt as defensive coordinator. It’s nepotism at its finest!
On the other hand: His reputation as a choker isn’t exactly the message you want to be sending to fans right now.

Steve Spagnuolo
For the second year in a row, the Giants’ defensive coordinator will be a hot name for coaching vacancies. The Big Blue defense has been outstanding in his two seasons: They’ve won a Super Bowl and go into these playoffs as the NFC's top seed. He’d be the head coach of the Redskins today, if the Giants hadn’t made him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in football.
On the other hand: He’s never been a head coach, and even his coordinator experience is limited. Haven’t we been down this road before?

Read more posts by Joe DeLessio

Filed Under: bill cowher, eric mangini, football, jets, marty schottenheimer, mike holmgren, sports, steve spagnuolo, the sports section

Source: Daily Intel | 30 Dec 2008 | 6:30 pm

Daniel Barenboim

The Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's concert will feature two firsts this year with Israeli-Argentinian conductor Daniel Barenboim, seen here rehearsing on December 28, 2008, at the helm and a piece by...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 30 Dec 2008 | 6:11 pm

Oprah Caught Up in New Memoir Fraud

Yet another memoir endorsed by Oprah Winfrey is revealed as a hoax.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 30 Dec 2008 | 6:04 pm

Cop-out! Benjamin Button Delivers Old-Man Baby But Botches Old-Baby Man

Sure, we cried at the end of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Pretty much anyone who's ever held a baby in his arms cried at the end of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. But our tears were tears of anger! Because we were angry! When we saw the old-man baby that Brad Pitt's character begins his life as, rendered in incredible detail through David Fincher's ingenious and near-perfect use of special effects, we got pretty excited about the movie's finale. But Benjamin Button totally copped out! Read our gripe, with photographic evidence (and spoilers!), after the jump.

So here is our problem with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: David Fincher delivers the old-man baby the trailer promised, but completely botches it in portraying the old-baby man that Brad Pitt should've become at the end of the movie. Benjamin Button is born an old-man baby: a wizened, 80-year-old man, stuffed into a body the size and shape of a newborn infant's. His body grows taller and larger throughout his "childhood," until, by the time he's 18 or so, his body is the size of an adult's, even though he still looks, like, 60. So it stands to reason that, as Benjamin Button approaches the end of his life, he should become a child, and then a baby, stuffed into a body the size and shape of an old man's, right?

But David Fincher blew it! Instead of continuing the special-effects magic, Fincher just casts a 12-year-old who sort of looks like Brad Pitt, and then some baby with blondish hair. Which is, of course, a total cop-out. By the movie's own logic, elderly Benjamin Button wouldn't be a baby-size baby; after all, he wasn't born an old-man-size old man! (Unlike, by the way, F. Scott Fitzgerald's original short story, in which Benjamin is freakishly born full-size, bearded, and talking.) We were totally looking forward to seeing a creepy old-baby man crawling around. Could you imagine an elderly Cate Blanchett trying to rock and cuddle a five-foot-tall baby? It might have made the movie's dead-baby ending bizarre and awesome instead of mawkish and manipulative!

So why did Benjamin Button chicken out? We would never have guessed, given the movie's reported $167 million budget, but it seems like Paramount just didn't give Fincher enough money. "We just ran out of money," Fincher told MTV, when asked why he cast child actors as young Benjamin Button. "We could have made [Pitt] into a baby … If we could get the money to do him as a 12-year-old, I would have done him as a 12-year-old." That would be closer to what we wanted to see, and we would fully support Paramount giving Fincher another $50 million to re-create those scenes for the DVD, but we're still not convinced that he fully understands the old-baby man his movie's ending requires.

We were going to hire a professional artist to create a drawing of the perfect adult-size old-baby man, but then we realized that the giant baby from Spirited Away illustrates our point just fine.

We demand an old-baby man, David Fincher!

Read more posts by Dan Kois

Filed Under: brad pitt, david fincher, movies, old-man babies, the curious case of benjamin button

Source: Vulture | 30 Dec 2008 | 6:00 pm

French Unisex-Fashion Pioneer Ted Lapidus Dies

Ted Lapidus with a model in 1976.

Ted Lapidus, the Parisian "designer of the street" known for pioneering the sixties unisex look, has died in France at the age of 79. He suffered pulmonary complications due to leukemia yesterday at a hospital in Cannes. French president Nicolas Sarkozy said in a tribute that Lapidus "democratised French elegance and classicism" and "made fashion accessible to men and women in the street." Lapidus created his label in 1961; his designs kept up with social changes occurring in Europe in the sixties. In 1963 he joined the Parisian club that runs haute couture, La Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. Ted's son Olivier took over the label in 1982 and began focusing on accessories because he thought they'd be more lucrative. Today the Lapidus label mainly lives on through accessories like fragrances and watches.

French fashion designer Ted Lapidus dies at 79 [AP]
Ted Lapidus, 1960s Paris fashion revolutionary, dies aged 79 [Guardian]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: nicolas sarkozy, obituaries, olivier lapidus, ted lapidus

Source: The Cut | 30 Dec 2008 | 5:45 pm

The Best 25 Music Videos Of 2008

Even though the closest thing to a music video you've seen on TV recently is a Jack's Mannequin song set against some B-roll of L.A. on The Hills, I can assure you, the music video is NOT a dead art form! And in 2008, the music business may have struggled to make money in the pirate-ridden seas of album sales, but they had no problem spending money on some incredibly beautiful, funny, creepy, and bizarre music videos. Here are my favorites from this year, in no particular order (if you must know, "Shine" is my favorite). Take some time to sit back and remember that music + moving images = MAGIC! I know I missed a bunch, so please include your personal favorites in the comments! Thunderheist "Jerk It"This video will turn you on - and in turn make you wonder if you're a pervert.
Architecture In Helsinki "Like It Or Not"
As a lady who loves all things embroidered and needleworked, this video gives me a giant heart boner.
Beyonce "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

Beyonce's relatively simple, yet stunning, video inspired countless tributes such as this.
MGMT "The Youth"Eric Wareheim of Tim & Eric directed this. What, you couldn't tell? I'm simultaneously freaked out and mesmerized.
Adele "Chasing Pavements"
Choreography on the pavement: cool and fitting.
SNL: "J*zzed In My Pants"I just call it ecstasy.
The BPA & David Byrne Featuring Dizzee Rascal "ToeJam"I LOVE THIS VIDEO! It's so. Much. Fun.
MGMT "Electric Feel"

Don't kill me....but in this video, MGMT reminds me of a MUCH cooler version of The Jonas Brothers. Aaaanyway, this video is what it would be like if the band threw a party in my nightmares (fun, yet terrifying).
TV On The Radio "Golden Age"I have NO idea what's going on here, but the cops dancing are pretty awesome.
Weezer "Pork And Beans"If you haven't seen this already, you were born 35 seconds ago. Weezer created a super-viral video.
Bjork "Wanderlust"Dayaaaamn Bjork, this sh*t is INSANE. Way to take it to a whole 'nother level and make the rest of the music world feel like Jan Terri. The video was done in stereoscopic 3D, which basically means it will blow your mind. (To watch in 3D, go here.)
The New Pornographers "Mutiny, I Promise You"Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler made this video for The New Pornographers as part of their Penelope Princess Of Pets series on Superdeluxe. It's adorable.
Fleet Foxes "White Winter Hymnal"I feel like they used to show animation like this on Pinwheel. And it still kind of scares me. But set to Fleet Foxes, I'm downright obsessed.
MGMT "Time To Pretend"

I realize there's a lot of MGMT on this list, but seriously, these guys know how to make a music video! The multiple drummer scene totally reminds me of the Olympics opening ceremonies.
Gnarls Barkley "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"
As I've mentioned before, this video is a combo of the diner scene from Spaceballs, California Raisins, and a Prilosec OTC commercial. It's THE BEST! Plus, Jorma Taccone!
Radiohead "Reckoner"This video was made by Clement Picon, who was one of the winners of Radiohead's Aniboom animation contest. Its serene beauty fits the song perfectly.
Britney Spears "Womanizer"

Writhing around nude covered in baby oil: the mark of a major comeback.
Feist "1234" (Sesame Street Version)I like this better than the original.
Of Montreal "Id Engager"Take an Of Montreal happy pill and watch this. It always makes things better.
Radiohead "House Of Cards"DID YOU GUYS KNOW THAT no cameras or lights were used in making this video?? Radiohead, more like Spacelaserhead! Ahem.
Ferras "Liberation Day" (Greg Johnson Runs Naked)Greg Johnson made this delightful video of himself running naked across America, set to a Ferras song. The video quickly spread and it seems has been made the official video for the song. Well, duh, music business, that's how it should be. Let your fans make the videos for free!
She & Him "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"Katy Perry, I dare you to try and be this cute.
Yeasayer "Wait For The Summer"This one starts out creepy crawly with some beetles running around, but then kind of turns into what it might look like if the side of your custom van could be animated.
Hot Chip "Ready For The Floor"This is what you'd get if you combined Two Face from Batman with a Robert Palmer video.
Chris Dane Owen "Shine"Proof that incredibly elaborate, high-budget music videos still exist - for no reason other than to bring unending joy to my heart.
Source: Best Week Ever | 30 Dec 2008 | 5:30 pm

Allen issues letter to SAG members

Front Page: Guild's exec director addresses strike turmoil -- With pressure mounting to call off SAG's strike authorization, the guild's top exec, Doug Allen, has asserted he's hoping a strike won't occur but that if it does, it won't shut down the industry.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 30 Dec 2008 | 5:28 pm

Olivia Palermo: Everything You Need to Know

Okay, so you know that skinny brunette vixen, Olivia Palermo, from The City last night? She's got a long New York history, and we've been chronicling it for as long as she's been desperately trying to break onto the scene. For starters, you should read Isaiah Wilner's story about Olivia's original rise and catastrophic fall among the society elite. Then you should introduce yourself to Johannes Huebl, Olivia's spectacular (with an emphasis on "pec") model boyfriend. Oh, and who could forget that time the spoiled socialite's dad filed for bankruptcy? We certainly can't.

Anyway, that's just the highlights. Our complete coverage of Olivia Palermo is here. From the looks of things (her hair mostly), the highlights are just going to keep improving.

Earlier: Olivia Palermo's Dad Tries for Bankruptcy, Fails
Introducing Johannes Huebl, Olivia Palermo's New BF!
Related: The City Gives Us a Reality-TV Orgasm [Cut]
The Number-One Girl [NYM]

Read more posts by Chris Rovzar

Filed Under: crazytown, johannes huebl, olivia palermo, reality television, the city, whitney port

Source: Daily Intel | 30 Dec 2008 | 5:10 pm

Tom Cruise plays the would-be assassin of Adolf Hitler in a new movie

A handout photo in 2007 from Studio Babelsberg shows Tom Cruise. Cruise was "deeply moved" by playing the would-be assassin of Adolf Hitler in the movie "Valkyrie," he said in an interview with a German...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 30 Dec 2008 | 5:06 pm

Brody Jenner’s Heightened Self-esteem Makes Up for His Lack of Self-awareness

"I love being able to laugh at myself. The moment you start to take yourself too seriously, other people don't." —Brody Jenner doesn't realize that you've never taken him seriously [NYDN]

"I just recently admitted that I like Bob Seger. I have some friends from Oakland, California who have been telling me, 'Oh, you have to check out early Bob Seger, it's really awesome.' I didn't believe them for a while, but it's true." —The Sword's J.D. Cronise has obviously never spent much time in Detroit [A.V. Club]

"I suck at traditional dating." —Bret Michaels confirms that he sucks at all forms of dating [NYDN]

"One of the most depressing things over the last month is watching myself pop up on all these year-end lists." —Amanda Palmer [Sound of the City/Voice]

"The 'two' in the equation means C squared, not MC multiplied by two." —mathematician Dr. David Leslie, of Sense About Science, takes issue with Mariah Carey's statement that her album E=MC2 stands for "emancipation equals Mariah Carey times two" [Guardian]

Read more posts by Stan Park

Filed Under: Bret Michaels, Brody Jenner, Mariah Carey, Quote Machine

Source: Vulture | 30 Dec 2008 | 5:00 pm

Holocaust 'greatest' love story a hoax

Oprah Winfrey once dubbed it the "greatest love story" she had ever heard: a boy held at a Nazi concentration camp during World War II and a girl on the outside who tossed him apples to keep him alive. They eventually married and grew old together.
Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 30 Dec 2008 | 4:51 pm

Thakoon Panichgul Not Pandering to the Economy

Thakoon Panichgul, one of Michelle Obama's favorite designers, on his new line, Thakoon Addition: "I didn’t conceive Thakoon Addition as something sales-friendly for the sucky economy. I’ve been thinking about doing this for at least a year. And my runway collections tend to be pretty accessible anyway. Now, maybe I’ll have a chance to experiment more, but at heart I like to make wearable clothes." [Style.com]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: quotables, thakoon addition, thakoon panichgul

Source: The Cut | 30 Dec 2008 | 4:49 pm

Bjork Turns Venture Capitalist

Bjork has partnered with a Reykjavik-based venture capital firm on a fund that will invest in companies that are socially and environmentally responsible and will help restore Iceland's battered economy.

Source: Billboard.com | 30 Dec 2008 | 4:46 pm

Blue October Expands Reach On New Album

Blue October plans to "go global" with its fifth album, "Approaching Normal," according to bassist Matt Noveskey. "We want to go international," Noveskey tells Billboard.com, adding that the plan will be in motion in January when the quintet group flies to Europe for a 10-day promotional swing after it films the video for new single "Dirt Room."

Source: Billboard.com | 30 Dec 2008 | 4:28 pm

Cate Blanchett's Upton certainty

Cate Blanchett "couldn't not" say yes when her husband Andrew Upton proposed to her.

The 39-year-old actress - who has three sons, seven-year-old Dashiell, four-year-old Roman and eight-month-old Ignatius with Andrew - knew she would end up marrying the playwright as soon as they met.

Speaking about Andrew's proposal, Cate said: "I couldn't not accept. We were in exactly the same place at exactly the same time. He turned to me after a few days and said, 'Cate … ,' and I thought, 'Oh, god, he's going to ask me to marry him - and I'm going to have to say yes!' He didn't, in fact - he asked me what I wanted for dinner or something like that. But I'd never had that thought before. I thought, 'This is extraordinary! I've never felt this before. What an adventure!' "

Cate - who can next be seen starring alongside Brad Pitt in reverse ageing movie 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' - also revealed while she and Andrew are happy in their relationship, there is one thing that would spark problems between them.

She added to Vanity Fair magazine: "Andrew said he'd divorce me if I had any plastic surgeries.

"When you've had children, your body changes, there's history to it. I like the evolution of that history. I'm fortunate to be with somebody who likes the evolution of that history."

Source
Source: Lepaparazzi - Celebrity News and Gossip Blog | 30 Dec 2008 | 4:28 pm

Christina Aguilera: I’m a huge organisation freak

Singer blames her chaotic childhood

Christina Aguilera has admitted that’s she's a control freak.

‘I was raised in a very chaotic environment,’ she explains.

‘We were always moving from one place to another, my father being in the military, and you know, my mother leaving my father, going back and forth.

'Nothing was ever quite stable or secure for me. So that might definitely have something to do with liking things done in order, in control and my way.

'I’m a huge organisation freak. Everything is labelled and specified and there’s a place for it.’

Christina, 27, reckons music helped her to deal with her disjointed childhood.

‘As a very young girl there was a lot of domestic violence in the home,’ she tells The Observer Magazine.

‘So I think I just gravitated towards music as an escape.’

Christina is now happlly married to Jordan Bratman, 31, and is mum to 11-month-old son Max Liron.

Source
Source: Lepaparazzi - Celebrity News and Gossip Blog | 30 Dec 2008 | 4:25 pm

Daniel Craig: I have to look like I could kill someone

Actor loathes going to the gym five times a week

Daniel Craig admits he has to work hard to keep toned.

The James Bond star, 40, had to beef-up for the role of 007 and now maintains his beefcake physique.

‘I go to the gym fives days a week for 40 minutes at a time,’ he tells Weekend magazine.

‘I hate it but I have to do it, because apart from anything, James Bond has to look physically imposing.'

Daniel is the 6th actor to play James Bond and has starred as the spy in two films – Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace.

'I was big for Casino - that wasn't a mistake,' Daniel explains. 'It was a definite statement. This guy, when he takes his shirt off, should look like he could kill someone.'

Source
Source: Lepaparazzi - Celebrity News and Gossip Blog | 30 Dec 2008 | 4:23 pm

Brad Pitt: Some of my brain cells have shut down

Actor is struggling to learn French

Brad Pitt admits his mind isn't as agile as it once was.

The actor, who is currently based in Berlin, is planning to move to France with partner Angelina Jolie and their six kids next year.



But he can't get to grips with the language.

‘Ange and I are trying to learn French,’ he says.

‘But she’s better at it than I am. Some of my brain cells seem to have shut down, so I’m struggling.

I can say “merci beaucoup” and that’s about it.’

Adopted son Maddox puts his dad to shame.

‘

Our seven-year-old rips it, man,’ Brad, 45, tells Hello!



‘He’s fantastic, so good. It’s really humiliating – but we’re really proud of him.’

Brad and Ange, 33, are also parents to five-month-old twins Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon, daughter Shiloh, 2, and adopted kids Pax, 4, and Zahara, 3.

Source
Source: Lepaparazzi - Celebrity News and Gossip Blog | 30 Dec 2008 | 4:19 pm

Long-Anticipated 'Phantom of the Opera' Sequel in the Works

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber says the long awaited sequel to "Phantom of the Opera" should be ready at the end of 2009, with a possible simultaneous opening on three continents.
Source: FOXNews.com | 30 Dec 2008 | 4:13 pm

Deborah Tate steps down at FCC

Front Page: Departure had been expected -- FCC commissioner Deborah Tate has announced her resignation from the regulatory org.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 30 Dec 2008 | 4:07 pm

OPEN THREAD: New Year’s Eve Vs. Halloween

Every New Year's Eve, I always anticipate some crazy night of never-ending parties, then December 31st rolls around and none of my friends have any plans, I don't have any plans, and we end up either paying $100 to go to some crowded-ass bar where we feel obligated to stay super late and drink to get our money's worth, or to a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend's party that's a 90 minute cab ride away and runs out of alcohol at 9:30. On the other hand, every Halloween, I feel like there's always a dozen parties going on that are all different and fun, and even though there isn't the same "we must stay out all night on this exact night" pressure, everyone ends up staying out late and having an awesome time. In short: New Year's Eve -- Too Much Pressure To Have Fun, Never Lives Up To Expectations. Halloween -- Moderate Pressure To Have Fun, Always Exceeds Expectations. New Year's Eve vs. Halloween -- Which one do you prefer? Like 'em or hate 'em both? Leave your answers and any relevant sh*tty party stories in the comments!
Source: Best Week Ever | 30 Dec 2008 | 4:00 pm

Revolutionary Road’s David Harbour on Bond Villainy and Onscreen Sex With Kate Winslet

Best known as a stage force to be reckoned with, David Harbour’s feats so far include a Tony nomination for his portrayal of Nick in Anthony Page’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Now, having wrapped three major movies this year, Harbour’s hit the mainstream. We talked to the 33-year-old Brooklynite about doing sexy times with Kate Winslet in front of husband Sam Mendes, playing a Bond villain in Quantum of Solace, and the all-too-real fear of flubbing lines in front of Russell Crowe.

What was your intention for Shep, your character in Revolutionary Road?
I mean, his name is Shep, which is symbolic of a dog. He’s a puppy dog, in a way, who’s in love with April. His whole chapter is like an ode to her. I guess his primary focus is with her the whole film. You see dogs outside cafés when their owners are in getting a cup of coffee, you see the look on their face waiting for them to come out the door. I think that’s sort of Shep’s whole deal, waiting for April.

So, that’s the look you were going for?
[Laughs] Yes, that was one of the looks.

In the film, you have sex with Kate Winslet’s character. How was it doing that in front of Sam Mendes?
It was a bit embarrassing, but the one thing I took great solace in is that Shep is a lot more into it than April is, so the fact that I was such a bad lover and such an inappropriate choice for April at that moment must have not made Sam be too scared of me.

You just used the word “solace” in a sentence. Have you been using that word a lot more lately?
[Laughs] I don’t know! Maybe that is some weird subconscious thing that you’re picking up. That’s horrible of me trying to promote my other movie while I’m on the phone with you. God, that’s horrible! I apologize.

It’s okay, the next question is Bond-related anyway. Was it your dream to be in a Bond movie growing up?
I guess this all is sort of beyond a dream because I never dreamed that big. I mean, to have a mustache and be villainous, it just doesn’t get any more fun than that.

But surely you’d want to be James Bond himself and not like Jaws or someone?
No, if you’re in a Bond movie, trust me, you want to be the villain. Those guys have too much fun. They’ve toned them down considerably since the days of like sharks and laser guns and hats with razor blades, but still like, bleeding out your eyes playing poker, blowing up fuel cells, that’s just the best. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for villains.

How is your quest going to have the Hold Steady play at your wedding?
It’s going. Slowly, but surely.

Do you know those guys personally?
We have friends of friends that know them. They live in Brooklyn, which is where we live, and they’re always around. We’ll find out they were at this bar the other night, and it’s like, “Oh! Fuuuuuck. We need to go to that bar!”

So you really love them?
You have no idea. I have like four albums on my entire iPod, which holds 120G of music. I have one percent of it taken up and it’s their four albums. Oh God, I love them so much to the depths of my soul I can’t tell you. There’s something about their music that clicks in my brain and sets off chemical fireworks, like any other great drug you’ve ever done. I just saw them at Terminal 5. I don’t start my next job till January, and I thought about just getting in the car and going around to Minneapolis, going to Cleveland, going to every spot.

Maybe you feel an affinity with them since you’re breaking through to the mainstream at exactly the same time as them.
I think that they have ambivalence and complexity about that, because in their guts they’re a bar band who really do it for the thrill of it. I hope I can hold on to the amateur in me, like I think they have.

It’s probably easier to do that if you get success later in life.
I think that’s true. Hitting my thirties, I was like, “Oh I get it, so it’s not all a big deal, let’s just relax, let’s just have a good time.” When these good things are happening to me to be like “Yeah, well, have your fun, but just realize that we’re all going to get on the subway tomorrow.”

I was going to ask if you ever make friends with your castmates on movies, but actually what I really to know involves State of Play. How was working with Russell Crowe?
I mean I’ve heard stories about him, but I found him to be lovely. I think part of it is that I’m kind of an alpha guy. I’m a big guy, and I’ve a strong personality and a strong presence and I think he is too. Sometimes when two guys like that meet, there can be one of two directions that it can go: You can either get in fights and resent the person or you can just laugh and be like “Oh, look at you!” and see yourself a bit in the mirror. I really did have that experience with him. We had a really good time. We laughed a lot, and he was very respectful. The time that I had with him, he really wanted to work. There was one scene where I was struggling a bit with my lines and he got on my case about it. I was impressed with him actually.

It’s like, I’m flubbing my lines, hide the phones!
The dude’s got personality. He’s definitely a very outspoken individual, but I didn’t get any phones thrown at me.

Read more posts by Fiona Byrne

Filed Under: Chat Room, David Harbour, Revolutionary Road

Source: Vulture | 30 Dec 2008 | 4:00 pm

More Cuts Expected at Condé Nast; Giorgio Armani Promotes Health Books

Maybe a cat can help Erin rip up her other pants?

• More budget cuts are expected next week at Condé Nast mags Details and Domino. Good luck, staffers. [Jossip]

• Tom Brady might have proposed to Gisele on a private plane on Christmas Eve. Their family members know nothing of it. [Daily Intel]

• Giorgio Armani is appearing in ads in Italy to promote Prevention Guides, a new series of health books. "The double-page spread depicts a beaming Armani shot against a gray backdrop holding one of the guides and framed by a message in capital letters that reads 'Love Yourself.'" [WWD]

• Erin Wasson's New Year's resolution: "Next year, I'm definitely devoting myself to saving and adopting more animals. I will be on a crusade to do as much as I can. Yes, I can only imagine how crowded my house will be by 2010!" [Refinery 29]

• The Tracey Ross boutique closed in L.A. because it couldn't survive in the economic climate. Where, oh, where will celebs buy their Derek Lam now? [NYP]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: conde nast, details, domino, erin wasson, giorgio armani, gisele bundchen, loose threads, models, tom brady, tracey ross

Source: The Cut | 30 Dec 2008 | 3:56 pm

Man Charged in Jennifer Hudson's Family Murders Due in Court

The man accused of killing three members of actress Jennifer Hudson's family is slated to appear before a judge in Chicago later in the day.
Source: FOXNews.com | 30 Dec 2008 | 3:48 pm

Suspect Indicted in Killing of Jennifer Hudson's Family

Estranged husband of Hudson's sister has pleaded not guilty to killing three of her relatives
Source: FOXNews.com | 30 Dec 2008 | 3:21 pm

CAPTION THIS: Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh No No No (Suri Sings Beyonce)

I know it's highly unlikely, but when I look at this photo I like to imagine that Suri Cruise is singing Beyonce's "Crazy In Love." Either that, or it's a soulful rendition of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" in her most baritone voice. Why does it always look like Katie is carrying her in the most haphazardly fashion, legs and arms flailing about? Either this kid is getting too big to be carried, or she's always squirming around (i.e. trying to escape).
Source: Best Week Ever | 30 Dec 2008 | 3:00 pm

Arrival of Lesbian Vampire Killers Trailer Bolsters Our Hopes for a Truly Outstanding 2009

Man, we are SO ready to put the year 2008 behind us. Fortunately, from the looks of things, 2009 is shaping up to be the kind of truly kick-ass-tastic year that we had hoped 2008 was going to be. Not only do we have the pants-shitting 3-D spectacle My Bloody Valentine to look forward to in just three short weeks, we also have the promise (or is it the specter?) of a movie called Lesbian Vampire Killers to get our hearts a-racing! The film, which at this point has yet to secure a domestic distributor, is set for release in the U.K. in March 2009. However, we've got our fingers crossed that Barack Obama will have the good sense to set aside some time during his first 90 days in office to ensure that this Grindhouse-esque film gets seen by American audiences. This U.K. teaser trailer doesn't give away much in terms of the film's plot, but then again, we're pretty sure that the film's title says it all. Our only hope is that it turns out to be a more satisfying viewing experience than Zombie Strippers was in 2008.

Lesbian Vampire Killers [via First Showing]

Read more posts by Mark Graham

Filed Under: Lesbian Vampire Killers, movies, Trailer Mix

Source: Vulture | 30 Dec 2008 | 3:00 pm

The City Gives Us a Reality-TV Orgasm

Oh, where on earth do we begin with The City? That it's simply amazing? Television's new heroin? We can't believe we ever cared about Lauren Whatsherface and Heidi Whogivesacrap? The first two episodes exceeded our expectations last night, starting with the theme song "Top of the World" by the Pussycat Dolls, which immediately alerts us we're in for one slutty series. Whitney struts past leering construction workers in a flimsy, indecently short bright-yellow dress to more sexy slut music MTV never would have played for Lauren Whatsherface. Whitney looks bored as all hell when she arrives at the Diane Von Furstenberg office for her first day of work. Olivia Palermo arrives, and they have one of the most staged reality-TV conversations in history about who Whitney and Olivia know. Because everyone knows New York — excuse us, The City — is all about who you know. And don't you know Whitney? Everyone knows everyone. Throughout this fascinating discourse, Olivia looks at Whitney like she wants to jump out from behind her desk and suck the blood from her neck, while Whitney looks, as usual, oblivious to Olivia's and her own feelings. Olivia gloats about her busy social schedule and tells Whitney she's having a dinner party for Fashion Week (which OMG is during Whitney's first week) and doesn't invite her. Guess the producers didn't tell her that was mandatory yet!

Whitney wastes no time going out with Jay the Aussie. We hate him because his face looks like a badly mowed lawn and he needs a shower. Also, he slurs his words. They have another staged-as-all-hell conversation about how he's going to be her "tour guide" in The City — exactly the kind of thing a guy like him would say to a girl who just moved here and never follow through on. After dinner, he asks Whitney back to his place. And she says yes. We knew she was just as slutty as those hemlines! You can tell by the conversation she has with her roommate Erin the next morning that she totally did him (gross) and maybe regrets it, but dammit! She's an independent big-city girl now and can do what she wants.

Cut to backstage at Fashion Week. Whitney makes sure the models' shoes have knots and not bows. Taxing. Then she hits the staff after-party at the Thomson Hotel — the very one we were at. Excuse us here a moment, because this part got a little blurry when we saw ourselves on camera. Our head. Onscreen. For, like, a whole three seconds! We can now die happy bloggers. Olivia finally invites Whitney to her dinner party. Whitney invites Jay, but he doesn't want to go because he doesn't like Olivia and her friends. Oh the uptown-downtown divide! Which will Whitney choose?! Her neatly pinned side braids say uptown, but her inner slut says downtown. We hope she chooses downtown and does all those things you're supposed to do when you first move here, like getting falling-down drunk every night, making out with random hotties until you catch a bad virus, and trying cocaine. Anyway, Whitney brings Erin to the party, but then Jay shows up. Olivia looks pissed when he walks in with a bottle of fine bubbly, but then pretends she's happy to see him. She probably wants to do him, which is so nasty.

So Jay comes off looking like some sort of hero since he declined the dinner-party invite but then showed up with something expensive for the hostess at the last minute. Manipulative prick. He should've just said he'd love to go and attend like a nice boy. But, as Whitney learns, there are none of those in New York. (Well, maybe they're hiding out there somewhere.) And Alex, Whitney's old male-model flame who ex-boss Kelly Cutrone hooked her up with, is not one of those guys either. Episode two opens when he invites Whitney to lunch, at which he wears the most obnoxious headgear fake hipsters ever discovered: a straw fisherman's hat. He tells her Jay is hooking up with his roommate's best friend, whom he used to date. Or something. We were distracted by his heinous hat and couldn't focus on the nonsense coming out of his mouth.

Whitney returns home upset and tells Erin she's just going to have to ask Jay about it. Because after all, what if she can't trust either of them? Cut to Jay playing basketball with a nicely toned shirtless fellow (whom we think was the guy in the opening credits? It doesn't really matter). Jay wears those opaque neon-orange sunglasses that one really must call "shades." He tells Shirtless he wants to see other people and Whitney. Well, obviously. That's how The City works.

Somewhere decidedly uptown, Olivia decides with one of her friends she's going to bring Whitney into her inner circle so she doesn't get mixed up in the downtown crowd. She even takes her to Manolo Blahnik's shoe signing, at which she asks about Jay. Whitney reveals they had a "minor little hump." Olivia resists drawing blood from Whitney's eye sockets and adopts an expression of mild concern.

Cut to nighttime, Whitney, Jay, Jay's roommate Adam, and Erin sit at a table at Tenjune. Alex comes over and confronts Jay about sneaking around behind Whitney's back. Jay blows up and starts saying things like, "Don't fucking start talking shit about me," and threatening, "I will take care of you myself." Amazing. Alex responds by using the word "fuck" a lot too. Even better. Things get so heated the fight almost turns physical and Adam gets involved. The next morning (presumably), Whitney and Jay are having brunch. He's happy, she's glum. We're guessing they got it on and he got off but she didn't and feels used. As she should because he's just that kind of guy.

The hour of awesomeness ends with a visit to Kelly Cutrone. It's the most genuine conversation of the hour, and Kelly suggest to Whitney neither Jay nor Alex is trustworthy. Yes, thank you, Kelly. Seriously heartwarming. Just to make us all melt into the cracks of our couches further, the episode ends with breathy singing girl music and aerial shots of Manhattan in the sunset. At which point we reached reality-TV orgasm, and things, again, got blurry. This must be what love feels like.

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: diane von furstenberg, inner city life, mtv, olivia palermo, reality tv, the city, whitney port

Source: The Cut | 30 Dec 2008 | 2:54 pm

Gallery: At Australian music fest

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 30 Dec 2008 | 2:42 pm

Sing in the new with the latest musical games (AP)

AP - What does "Auld Lang Syne" mean, anyway? And who knows the lyrics beyond the first verse? Don't you want something a little livelier at your New Year's Eve party? Wouldn't, say, Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" be more appropriate after a largely dismal year?

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 30 Dec 2008 | 2:27 pm

DMX Heading To Jail On Drug, Cruelty Charges

Embattled rapper DMX faces at least 90 days in jail after pleading guilty on Tuesday to drug, theft and animal cruelty charges, Arizona prosecutors said. The artist pleaded to three felony charges and one misdemeanor count in Maricopa County Superior Court under a deal to settle three criminal cases against him.

Source: Billboard.com | 30 Dec 2008 | 2:10 pm

'Terminator' joins Film Registry

Front Page: 'In Cold Blood,' 'Deliverance' also included -- "The Asphalt Jungle," "Sergeant York," "In Cold Blood," "The Pawnbroker," "Deliverance" and "The Terminator" are among the 25 films selected this year by the Library of Congress for inclusion in its National Film Registry.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 30 Dec 2008 | 2:02 pm

Tom Arnold Yells at 19-Year-Old Boys Online

Hey, You Suck: CBS has given the green light to Heckle-U, a nineteen-episode Web series starring Tom Arnold that will coincide with the NCAA basketball tournament. Owen Benjamin of Punk'd fame also stars as a slacker whose only real talent is heckling during college basketball games. Arnold plays his bartender uncle and fellow heckler, which is really a lot more respectable than being an actor on the downside of his career who's spending his time starring in Webisodes. [HR]

Presenting…: The Golden Globes continue to bring out presenters for its upcoming ostentatious display of wealth. Aaron Eckhart, Laurence Fishburne, and Blake Lively have been added to a list that includes Ricky Gervais, Jake Gyllenhaal, Salma Hayek, and Sacha Baron Cohen. Now the competition to see who gets to shake Brad Pitt's hand begins. [Variety]

This Conversation Is Over: After three years on air, Michael Eisner is putting an end to his monthly CNBC series Conversations With Michael Eisner in March. The former Disney head is moving on to devote more time to the businesses within his Tornante Co., including Internet production company Vuguru. Conversations With Michael Eisner, which he started right after leaving Disney, regularly features one-on-one convos between Eisner and other boring, rich white guys. [Variety]

Seamless Transition: Andrew Rannells, who played Link in the Broadway production of Hairspray, is moving from Baltimore to Jersey as he prepares to step into the role of Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys. This marks the first time someone has moved to Jersey and considered it an upgrade. [Playbill]

Apted to Make Someone Famous: Director Michael Apted has been chosen to co-chair the jury for the U.N.'s Democracy Video Challenge. The contest invites people from around the world to submit a three-minute video that defines the nature of democracy. Apted will oversee the selection of 21 finalists representing six parts of the world. "Film is a window into our common humanity — the challenges and joys that make up the universal human experience — no matter what language we speak or where we were born," Apted said. Yep, we've heard that one before. [HR]

Read more posts by Adam Raymond

Filed Under: Aaron Eckhart, Blake Lively, CBS, Golden Globes, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Apted, Michael Eisner, The Industry, Tom Arnold

Source: Vulture | 30 Dec 2008 | 2:00 pm

PHOTOS: Smoking Celebs

From the occasional puff to a lingering habit, these celebs all smoke.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 30 Dec 2008 | 1:41 pm

FOX411: Madonna Gives $2.6M to Kabbalah

Ex Mrs. Ritchie gave away $3.1 million last year and nearly all of it went to the Kabbalah Center of Los Angeles.
Source: FOXNews.com | 30 Dec 2008 | 1:32 pm

This Book Can Bring You Hotter Sex in '09

Alex Comfort's 1972 "Joy of Sex" has been reinvented for a new generation.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 30 Dec 2008 | 1:22 pm

Pop Tarts: Tara Reid's Rehab Romp Causes Controversy

It's no secret that stars get a lot of freebies, but it seems a complimentary cruise into rehab
Source: FOXNews.com | 30 Dec 2008 | 1:16 pm