The family of Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, who shocked and delighted audiences for four years on their Emmy-award winning MTV reality show "The Osbournes," are up to no good again in a variety-style show featuring skits, to air on Fox this spring.
EVENTS
• Can't wait for new Chanel? Stop by Saks Fifth Avenue for the spring trunk show. 611 Fifth Ave., nr. 50th St. (212-940-4440); 10–8.
• Head to Times Square to meet Jenny McCarthy, who's in town to show off Suave's new hair products and offer free samples. Military Island, Times Square, nr. 43rd St.; 11:30–1.
SALES STARTING TODAY
• All fall and winter 2008 items are up to 80 percent off at Moschino. Ongoing. 401 W. 14th St., at Ninth Ave. (212-243-8600); 11–7.
• Get an additional 50 percent off all the sale items at Ben Sherman. Ongoing. 96 Spring St., nr. Broadway (212-680-0160); Mon.–Sat. (10–8), Sun. (11–7).
• Lorick, Devotte, Cheap Monday, and more are on sale at Inven.Tory. Denim for men and women is $50, boots are $200, and sweaters are $160. Ongoing. 19 Kenmare St., nr. Bowery; daily (12–8).
• The fall dresses stocked at Honey in the Rough are 25 percent off. Expect to see lines like Tsumori Chisato and more. Ongoing. 161 Rivington St., nr. Clinton St. (212-228-6415); Mon.–Sat. (noon–8), Sun. (noon–7).
ENDING TODAY
• Sexy underwear by Dutch designer Marlies|Dekkers is buy one, get another item of equal or lesser value free. Through 1/14. Marlies|Dekkers at the Plaza Retail Collection, 1 W. 58th St., nr. Fifth Ave. (212-230-1724); Mon.–Sat. (11–7), Sun. (noon–6).
ENDING TOMORROW
• Marithé + François Girbaud closes on January 15, and they're going out with a sale — everything is 70 to 90 percent off. Through 1/15. 47 Wooster St., nr. Broome St. (212-625-0066); Mon.–Sat. (11–7), Sun. (noon. –6).
AP - Jennifer Hudson will make her first public appearance since the killings of her mother, brother and nephew during sports' grandest event the Super Bowl.
AP - Jennifer Hudson will make her first public appearance since the killings of her mother, brother and nephew during sports' grandest event the Super Bowl.
AP - Jennifer Hudson will make her first public appearance since the killings of her mother, brother and nephew during sports' grandest event the Super Bowl.
AP - Jennifer Hudson will make her first public appearance since the killings of her mother, brother and nephew during sports' grandest event the Super Bowl.
Reuters - The tables have turned at 2009's Sundance Film Festival. For most of the past two decades, the United States' top event for independent film that begins on Thursday has been chock full of dark dramas about the grim side of human nature, but this year amid a gloomy real-life economy, organizers promise a broad range of movies -- some with a lot of laughs.
Ad-Supported Website Invites Lotto Players From Around the World to Try Their Luck for Free NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Lottery fans from 70... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:30 pm
A singer took center stage at a Nashville honky-tonk to promote his new album. He had the good looks and easy charm of a movie star. Only in this case, he was a movie star.
Jennifer Hudson is using sports' grandest stage to make her return to the spotlight. The NFL confirmed Wednesday that Hudson will sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl in Tampa,... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:14 pm
Reuters - The dogs in "Hotel for Dogs" perform breathtaking stunts, touching love scenes, heartbreaking soliloquies with their eyes and clever, clever tricks. The human actors get upstaged at every turn.
It's that time again...
The eighth season of American Idol came roaring out of our TV sets Tuesday night, prompting the usual shock and awe—we're shocked by how high some...
The critically adored Disney-Pixar flick about a junk-collecting robot and his...
Ever since Kara DioGuardi was named as the fourth judge on American Idol back in August, fans have been wondering what sort of dynamic she would bring to the show. Well, it didn't take viewers long to figure out that DioGuardi was hired to up the Mean Girl quotient on Judge's Row, despite assurances from producers that this season was going to be kinder and gentler than in years past. While her first comment out of the box was derogatory in a harmless sort of way ("That was, uh, that was, uh. I've never seen anything like that before ... in a not-so-good way"), her attitude shifted considerably when it came to critiquing female contestants.
DioGuardi brought her claws out and dropped a "bitch" bomb on a bikini-clad contestant who took exception to Kara's criticism of her rendition of "Vision Of Love," but that paled in comparison to her stone cold diss of the only contestant who actually knew who she was. DioGuardi barely waited until 16-year-old Leah Marie, who came clutching a songbook of over 100 songs she had personally penned, was out of earshot to blast her for, get this, actually being one of her fans! "That's my fan. What does that tell you about my fans?", she complained to the other judges, apparently pissed that her lone supporter at the Arizona tryouts didn't have a better singing voice. While it remains to be seen whether these Mean Girl moments were isolated incidents of or part of a larger pattern, one thing is certain: Simon finally has some competition for the role of Idol's biggest villain.
"Chandni Chowk to China," an action-comedy about a lowly Indian chef who is mistaken for the reincarnation of a fabled Chinese warrior, opens Friday, and stars Akshay Kumar and Gordon Liu (seen in this... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 14 Jan 2009 | 2:08 am
Indian Bollywood film actress Deepika Padukone (left) and actor Akshay Kumar are seen before the European Premiere of their latest film "Chandni Chowk To China" in London's Leicester Square, on January... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 14 Jan 2009 | 2:08 am
Front Page: Production unit strikes deal with Universal -- Steve Carell has formed a TV wing of his Carousel Prods. shingle and struck a three-year first-look deal with Universal Media Studios, which is Carell's TV studio home for NBC's "The Office."
Front Page: Director, writer tackle Steinbeck adaptation -- Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment's Brian Grazer have set "John Adams" helmer Tom Hooper to direct and Christopher Hampton to write "East of Eden," an adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel.
We know Jackie Chan has the martial arts moves of a master...but how is he at trimming bonsai?
The Hong Kong-born action star is in talks to take on the role of Mr. Miyagi in an upcoming...
T-Mobile has pulled its commercials featuring the former NBA star and on-hiatus TNT game analyst in light of his recent...
Bret Michaels, the hard-rocking Poison front man who for decades has left a trail of clamoring women in his wake, has taken his search for love on the road.
I can exclusively tell you that Ms. Hudson will return to the stage for the first time since her horrific family tragedy at next month's Super...
Britney Spears' housewarming party is already in full swing—in her heart.
"I took my babies to our new home and they loved it! I can't wait to move in," the pop...
Still, no one knows yet whether a certain beloved Bluth will be there: Superbad...
Just how steamy will the new Star Trek movie be?
The film's star Chris Pine told us not too long ago that the upcoming installment of the outer-space franchise has...
How many will tune in tonight's American Idol premiere? Is Desperate Housewives the new Office? Why should grieving Lipstick Jungle fans take deep, cleasing breaths? And why is...
We pored through the pre-fall shows looking for the next "It" shoe, or at least our next purchase. The good news? No one fell! The bad news? Shoes are still sky-high. Alberta Ferretti's bootees feature a hidden platform and an additional ankle strap for extra wearability, while Oscar de la Renta piles on the studs on his boots and heels. Karl Lagerfeld did everything from heels that looked like upside-down Russian palaces to rhinestone-encrusted pumps at Chanel. Vera Wang and rag & bone decide to tone it down by offering menswear-inspired loafers. For these and more shoes to ogle, click ahead.
Look after look in the pre-fall shows were graphic-heavy, making eyes spin like those Magic Eye posters of yore. Rachel Roy went for horizontal and diagonal stripes, while Versace used swirls in a methodical, precise way. (Not to mention the label's famed Liberty star print came out for a run.) Michael Kors gave us optical illusions with stripes and checks in black and white, and Zero + Maria Cornejo combined yellow squares, orange triangles, and black circles. For these and more shape-inspired patterns fit to print, click ahead to the slideshow.
If the pre-fall collections are anything to go by, February's runways will be covered in texture. You'll practically be able to feel the fabric through your computer screen. Ruching — the gathering of fabric with elastic — was so prevalent, we wanted to break out our old prom dresses. Burberry opted for a textured mini with diagonal downward panels, while Donna Karan had asymmetrical creases finished with untied ruffles. Vera Wang's ruching sticks to the center of a black satin dress, and Nicole Miller and Reem Acra scrunch material from the waist up. For more on the trend, click ahead.
• It's always nice to see someone throw a little work LiLo's way. Maybe if she cleaned up her weave, she could score a few more gigs.
• Kelly Clarkson's "My...
Are you ready for pre-fall? We know what you're thinking: Is that a new season? Did the Cut make it up? Actually, no. Once mostly shown to buyers and handfuls of editors, pre-fall (like resort before it) has become a semi-official addition to the fashion calendar. The clothes are slightly more commercial than the normal ready-to-wear collections; these are mainly for the stores and the customer. The collections hit stores between May and July, filling the gap left when spring runs dry and fall is still being produced. (Previously, waiting for the season changeover in stores was brutal.) For your viewing pleasure, we have 23 pre-fall shows and presentations so far, with more coming over the next few weeks. Here, a selection of our favorite looks, from Oscar de la Renta (shown) to Chanel. Even if you're not running to replenish your wardrobe four times a year, consider this a sneak peek to February.
PUN STORES, TORONTO EDITION: Inspired by our very own 50 Best Pun Stores, Torontoist collected more than 60 punny store names that live in their own city. (Torontoist)
DO YOU HAVE CHICKEN FINGERS? The best celebrity soundboards on the internet are collected for your enjoyment. Though they did miss my favorite. (Urlesque)
AT LEAST THEY DIDN'T NAME HER GIGLI: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have named their new daughter Seraphina Rose Elizabeth Affleck. Meh. Not crazy enough! Come on celebrities! Are you going to let Ashlee Simpson and Lisa Bonet intimidate you? (Just Jared)
WHITNEY'S BOOBIES CAME TO PORT: Yesterday, beach pics of Whitney Port playing in the ocean showed a couple of nip slips. And she's wearing a microphone because she was taping forThe City. Oops. Anyway, she explained it all on her blog, blaming the "rough and tumble of the ocean." No explanation for why she's famous. (People)
YOU'RE NOT HELPING: You know those crazy quiz shows in Europe? Well, apparently the host of one of them flipped out because no one was calling in and she got canned. No word yet if this is fake or not. (Jossip)
During a TCA panel discussion earlier today, Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly gave a vote of confidence to Fringe while simultaneously dousing our already considerably low expectations for Dollhouse. When asked why they decided to slot the show on Friday nights (when most of the free world is doing anything other than watching television), Reilly gave the following answer:
"Joss Whedon does a certain kind of show. He’s right in the zone again on that. It's the kind of show that we know has a core passionate audience. In some other scheduling scenarios there could be enormous pressure on it ... we have a very compatible lead in with Sarah Connor... we’re going to let the show play out for 13 episodes and hopefully it will catch on ... if we can do some business there, that would be a great thing for the future."
Sounds like a pretty big "if" to us. The Sarah Connor Chronicles has been laying goose eggs on Friday nights all season and is, at least according to TV By The Numbers, the show that Fox is most likely to cancel. We've still got our fingers crossed for Dollhouse, but unless Joss decides to go all HIMYM on us and replace Eliza Dushku with Britney Spears, we're going to remain nervous about this show's prospects.
In Defiance, Liev Schreiber stars as one of the heroic Bielski brothers who saved hundreds of Jews from Nazis during World War II. When we saw him at the Nextbook.org-sponsored Cinema Society screening on Monday, we asked if he'd committed any acts of bravery in his own life. “I made love to a chicken in a cabaret in graduate school,” he replied without hesitation. “It was called A Post-Apocalyptic Tryst,” he said. Liev's lady-friend, Naomi Watts, was just as impressed as we were.
"That’s brilliant," she gushed. "You thought of that off-the-cuff."
“It’s not thinking quickly,” said Schreiber. “It really is the bravest thing I’ve ever done. I mean, honestly, I’m not that brave. But I did that in front of a lot of people." He continued, sounding almost nostalgic:
“There wasn’t, like, penetration or anything, but I wined and dined the chicken, and then I made out with the chicken.” Then, breaking from his reverie, he clarified: “The chicken wasn’t live; it was, like, a Perdue."
Watts still couldn’t think of her most daring moment. “I knew you were coming to me,” the Oscar-nominated actress said, rolling her eyes. “I don’t have anything."
“You’ve done some brave things,” Schreiber reminded her. “Sammy,” he said, referring to the couple’s son, born last month.
“Oh yeah, having a baby,” Watts said. “Well, do we need those details?” she asked. We shook our heads.
“Well, if you had seen it," Schreiber said to us meaningfully, "You would understand how brave it was."
Get more hot poultry action from Daniel Craig and Ellen Barkin by viewing our Party Lines slideshow.
Today in the media world, web went print, shelter mags moved, and newspapers turned tabloid. The media's hanging in there, after the jump.
• Print is so passé that it's already coming back again! In the form of The Printed Blog, a twice-daily, free newspaper aggregating city-specific blog posts and printing them onto a real page. The paper is launching soon in Chicago, San Francisco, and New York. [Wired]
• Print that still sells? Anything Obama-related. Last year's New Yorker cover featuring an “O” moon sold the third-most copies of the magazine ever. Now Time"record highs" for this year’s Person of the Year issue (it even beat you!). The Washington Post wants in on the action as well, planning to sell nearly two million newspapers in two days for Obama’s inauguration. [Romenesko]
• ReadyMade, a Meredith Corp.–owned DIY-for-comfortable-homeowners magazine, is moving from its home city of Berkeley, California, to its corporate headquarters in the less sunny Des Moines. But its editorial staffers are not moving with it. [Mixed Media/Portfolio]
• The Star Telegram and the Dallas Morning News are teaming up on Texas sports coverage, with the Telegram tackling the Rangers and the News covering the Cowboys, then sharing their stories with one another. [Star-Telegram]
• Country Weekly is dropping its subscribers, which is weird because we had no idea people bought Country Weekly at the newsstand. [Mediaworks/Ad Age]
• The Chicago Tribune, a key component of Sam Zell’s bankrupt newspaper conglomerate, is reshaping itself into a tabloid-size and -style paper (at newsstands, that is; subscribers will still receive the same size paper). The change became official today in a memo to staffers, the subject of which was actually "Tribune — now in a convenient carry-on size." [Chicago Tribune]
In the last few years, Capital One and GE Money both began offering loan programs to help patients pay for pricey cosmetic procedures like breast enlargements — and now, some doctors worry there will be fewer such loans. “Breast augmentation on average in New York costs $8,000 to $12,000,” says Upper East Side plastic surgeon Jennifer Walden. “We have a steady stream of patients who are borrowing to go through with the surgery, usually young professionals who don’t necessarily have a large amount of expendable cash, as a 60-year-old woman on Park Avenue might. It’ll be interesting to see if they’ll still be doing it.” Another surgeon, John Perrotti, has seen an uptick in loan applications as patients have less cash, and Capital One confirms it’s still writing new loans. “We’ve tightened standards and are taking a closer look at our underwriting,” says spokeswoman Pam Girado. And Healthcare Finance Management Association V.P. Richard Gundling says loan applications are getting more scrutiny. “It’s back to the old days: They want more documentation — your W-2, your 1040,” he says. “They might want employer information to call the HR department to find out if you’re truly employed.”
Since we, ourselves, would never presume to be able to define something as ephemeral as "talent," we can be certainly thankful for the existence of our nation's clipboard-wielding door watchers. At Access Hollywood’s Golden Globes gifting suite, Alexandre Desplat, the Globe-nominated Benjamin Button composer, was turned away.
When he strode up to the suite at the Sofitel in Beverly Hills, he introduced himself in a charming French accent. "I’m sorry, you're not on the list," came the reply. "I'm a Golden Globe nominee," he protested, "and I thought this was a Golden Globe event." Not even dropping the name of Brad Pitt's publicist could win him admittance. Finally, the staff explained that the event was for "talent only." "But I am talent," said Desplat. "I'm a Golden Globe nominee..." "Well..." began the attendant. "You mean face talent?" asked Desplat, drawing a circle with his finger. "Yeah," said the list holder.
Luckily, though, Billy Bush, Nancy O'Dell, and Vanessa Hudgens were able to enter without incident!
Front Page: Actor in final negotiations for 'Karate Kid' redo -- Jackie Chan is in final negotiations to join the Columbia Pictures remake of "The Karate Kid."
Last night, the new home of America's Next Top Model: Obsessed, the Oxygen Network, threw a lavish party at New York's Gotham Hall for various members of the model and media elite. And even though I fall into exactly none of those categories, and even though I was wearing jeans and a sweater and NOT the ostrich featherkini I had been saving for just an event, I still decided it would be worth my -- our -- while to attend. What I discovered behind those giant gilded doors was a world of too thin ladies, short bankers looking to score, hot velveteen-clad gay men, and the most delicious meat pies (eaten in secrecy) my lips had ever met. What I did NOT discover, unfortunately, was Mz. Tyra Banks. But we'll get to that in a moment.
Right off of the main entrance, a red carpet was set-up for all of the past contestants and judges. And let's be honest... when I say "judges", I really mean "judge", the only "judge" I truly pine for:
Nigel Barker. Here's to hoping Miss Jay didn't hear me say that.
Oh. I see.Ahead -- Live coverage from the ANTM party! Do I meet Tyra? Do I drink free Cosmos? Do I get dissed by Miss Jay? Click to find out.Some of the past models spotted on the carpet? Well, there was Cycle 2 winner Yoanna, who looked unrecognizable, facially clocking in at around 45 years old and rich:
Above, Yoanna finding out she just won the Botox Lottery. Also in attendance was 30 Rock star and Best Week Ever's own Judah Friedlander.
I'm proud to say Judah was the most famous celebrity there, and was eventually mobbed by a group of psychotic fans on the main floor, all begging him for a picture. Best Week Ever happily takes and accepts credit for this phenomenon. But the question that was still on everyone's mind: WHERE IS MISS TYRA? No sign of America's Most Toppest Model Ever yet!
Then, suddenly, the double doors flew open, and a giant fireball exploded in front of our eyes. We shielded our faces from the smoke, until, there, standing, regal, was Tyra Banks.
Looking fantastic as always! And a little Oprah-ey... in a good way! (There is a good way, right?) Tyra worked the red carpet in her body-hugging gown, got a handful of publicity shots taken, smiled, flipped her weave, and LEFT. That's right: She plain cleared out of the building. There was no Tyra mingling inside. No "Banks" for the memories. No "Tyra little of the brie". No ear fiercings. ZERO Tyra related puns were to be had. And, I'm not gonna lie -- my heart broke a little bit. Luckily, we still had the open bar in the main party space... and that's where the fun begins.
The room was beautifully decorated with long curtains and free vodka bottles. But before I could hit the bar, I noticed a familiar giant lurking in the shadows. It was noneotherthan Miss Jay, the only person at the party taller than me -- though, to be fair, he was in 3 inch heels. Eye contact was quickly established, but Miss Jay immediately looked away Memoirs of a Geisha style, causing me to crash my invisible rick shaw. He is a cunning minx, and he knows it. My friend urged me to ask for a picture, but having not had a single ounce of alcohol in my system, this was not an option. The photo... it could wait. (Spoiler alert!)
Moments later, it seemed, Miss Jay took to the stage to welcome everyone to the party:
His fierceness rays emitted a healthy dosage of Vitamin Fierce.
Let's take a closer look, yes?
Miss Jay got on the mic to announce an ANTM fashion show! Featuring all the past models!
Yup, there they all were, hungry and drunk and having a grand ol' time! Well, all of them that is, except for one... poor Whitney:
Whitney Thompson, you may recall, was the first plus-size winner of America's Next Top Model, and for whatever reason, she wasn't included in the show. Even in that blurry pic, you can see she's got a gorgeous face -- almost Anna Nicole like -- though she's definitely a coupla sizes larger than the other girls... like an 8. Or a 10. Did I mention I ate an ENTIRE MEAT POP TART AT THIS EVENT? AND A WINE GLASS FULL OF COSMOPOLITAN:
But back to the fashion show: Most of the models looked great. Outfits and hairstyles tastefully chosen, etc. Then... Samantha entered the fray with a look that can only be described as "Jimmy Johnson in Space":
Then, a model you may remember by the name of Jael hoofed it out onto the runway and turned the show into a hot Russian Prostitute bag of garbage. How mail order bridey is Jael? Well, she bazigully flashed her vadge on the red carpet:
So, I believe the answer is "Extremely Mail-Order Bridey". Jael was turning the runway into an underground Romanian rape nightmare, dancing like a stripper and making allll the other girls look, well, classy. I'm not gonna lie -- it was pretty entertaining. And just when I thought that nothing -- NOTHING -- could top Jael, a huge explosion went off... stopping my heart in its beat-trax... and all of a sudden:
FEATHERS WERE FALLING OUT OF THE SKY. Thankfully, the bartenders all had umbrellas with which to protect my sweet, sweet alcohol.
I didn't meet too many of the models, but I did have the pleasure of meeting an ANTM alum that I actually loved: Runner-upJoanie Dodds! Joanie is good friends with my friend and Vh1 co-worker, talking head extraordinaireBex Schwartz... seen here being dwarfed by me and her pal Noah:
That's me making "tough face", fellow tall-y Noah, and Bex.
I didn't get a picture of Joanie, but can attest to her likability and "awesomeness" factor. Don't think I wasn't "P.O."'d that a minor head cold kept me away from hours of drunk karaoke with most of the show's models. I may not be a model, but I can definitely sing my way out of a paper bag full of puke. Thanks again, horrible immune system. (Said sarcastically!)
I also ran into someone I met moons ago, Broadway star Nick Adams, who is next set to star in easily my favorite musical of all time: Guys & Dolls. If you coulda heard the two of us chattin' about Damon Runyon... well, you just haven't lived. Still, methinks you deserve a photo of Nick, being handsome:
The party was winding down. But something still wasn't right. I still hadn't gotten a snapshot with Miss Jay. The truth was: I was too nervous to ask. I mean... this was Miss F**king Jay we're talking about, wearing Minnie Mouse ears no less. Pride got to me quickly, and I told my companion that we should just get our coats and leave before the place cleared out. We picked up our coats, did a little pre-exit dance to the song "Damaged", and were about to go out the door... when...
There he was. Miss Jay. In all his glory. My friend Stephen urged me to say something. So using the new-found confidence instilled by the distilled, I squeaked out "Can I get a quick picture?" Well, in typical Miss Jay fashion, he rolled his eyes mighty bitchily and gave a small nod. I tip-toed over in the most grateful of fashions, until past contestant Brie moseyed on up to kiss him goodbye. His attention now fully removed from my lurking presence, I grabbed Stephen's arm, hissed a motherly "Let's go", and whisked the two of us past the curtains and into the lobby.
We had escaped, and I was glad. Miss Jay really is a bitch! I should have known. My scarf now almost all-the-way wrapped, we made our way to the door... when suddenly, there was Miss Jay, standing right next to us by the exit.
"Did you take your picture?" he sniffed.
"MmmmnoyoujustseemedbusyIdidn'twanttobotheryou."
"Well, do you want it or not?" I strode over to him, TENSE AS HALE, as Stephen snapped the following snapshot. As unflattering as it is, I will place it in what is known as my "Life Album":
Seriously, this is as stressed as I've ever looked. Source: Best Week Ever | 13 Jan 2009 | 10:33 pm
Front Page: Economy brings a more subdued festival -- Sundance, the first major fest to take place in the midst of the brutal economic downturn, is likely to be a more subdued affair.
As expected, as part of its new plan for getting its life together in 2009 (You go, Vikram!), Citigroup has spun off its Smith Barney retail brokerage unit into a joint venture with Morgan Stanley. They'll use a typical joint-custody model: Citi will accept $2.7 billion in support payments and will continue to own 49 percent of the unit, Morgan Stanley will take on the larger share of the work and will make the occasional snide comment about how Citi "thinks money grows on trees." As if this won't be traumatizing enough, the unit will be saddled with what may be one of the longest and ugliest hyphenates of all time: Citigroup Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Someone's going to need therapy. [WSJ]
Next month, Stefano Pilati will launch his first unisex collection for Yves Saint Laurent. It includes a men's and women's line, which a man and woman over at the Times of London tried on and took for a road test (jealous: population one blog). Of course, both loved wearing the suits, inspired by the iconic Le Smoking look St. Laurent introduced in the sixties. The male reporter, who only recently ditched his converse sneakers for a more grown-up look, writes:
The men’s silk shirts were so strong and simple, yet alluring and sensuous; the fishnet jumper clung in all the right places. Strutting down the street in our complementary suits, we were turning heads. I’d like to think it was as much for the high levels of confidence afforded us by the sharpness of our jackets as that we were essentially wearing the same things.
Modern androgynes don’t want to confuse gender identities, but draw the best qualities from both. And if that means a little guy-liner to really make my eyes pop, well, I’ll see you at the nearest beauty counter.
So these pieces not only inspired this guy to wear a fishnet jumper, but to write about it the way Plum Sykes might write about the $5,000 negligee she's road testing for her latest Vogue article. Yet he also writes, "I was feeling more manly than at any other time in my life." He probably drank cosmopolitans and everything that night.
Heath Ledger isn't the only person whose work should be posthumously honored this season, you know. One should also consider the brilliant prose on display in the late Jack Torrance's terrifying first novel, All Work And No Play Makes Jack A Dull Boy, which has finally been published after the unspeakable events that occurred at the Overlook Hotel in 1980. We can barely wait for the sequel, All Work And No Play Make Homer Something Something. [Blurb.com via Thighs Wide Shut]
Our frequent reaction, when we see famous people get busted for not paying taxes, is "Wait, you can just not pay them?" (We obviously know this is the case, but somehow, every April, it just doesn't seem like an option.) Our second most common reaction is "Why is it always people in politics and finance who aren't paying them?" During hearings for the confirmation of Timothy Geithner as Treasury secretary, for example, came not only news that Geithner had failed to pay self-employment taxes for four years, but also that he had a household worker who didn't have working papers for part of her tenure in his home.
It wasn't a ton of money, but really? Did you really not know those taxes were coming those four years? Apparently that's the line Obama is selling. "He's dedicated his career to our country and served with honor, intelligence and distinction," the president-elect's spokesman said. "That service should not be tarnished by honest mistakes, which, upon learning of them, he quickly addressed." It's not the suspicion that Geithner is somehow corrupt that gets laypeople worried, though. It seems to us (and apparently also to Jim Cramer) it's the concern that he might not know exactly what's going on. You know, financially.
Editor's note: Michelle and Sara had the opportunity to sit down with each of the cast members of the new season of The Real World. Using their signature brand of tag-team tough-question journalism that comes from minutes of experience, the ladies dug deep into the psyches of the cast members. We will be bringing you interviews with each cast member over the coming days! The Real World: Brooklyn airs on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on MTV. For constant stimulation, you can also check out RealWorldDailies.com.
Aside from the fact that Devyn had an adorable puppy with whom Michelle and I were obsessed, I found her to be quite interesting. She had a lot of opinions about the show, and I was particularly impressed with her brutal honesty about the experience in general. Most people will try and give you some answer about life experience and learning all about yourself etc., but Devyn was no holds barred admitting that she was here to get herself a career in entertainment. She also told us about the "murder haven" that is Red Hook.
BWE: First of all, how old are you?DEVYN: I am 20 years old.
BWE: Are you the youngest in the house? DEVYN: Indeed I am.
BWE: A baby. What was that like?DEVYN: I didn’t really feel like the baby 99% of the time. When we went to Atlantic City I was pretty much not allowed to do anything except breathe, which sucked royally, but besides that, I never really felt like a baby.
BWE: Was there a lot of immaturity going down?DEVYN: Yes.
BWE: By the way just for fair warning, we are very unprofessional. Was there a lot of drama in the house?DEVYN: Let's just say we wrapped two weeks early.
BWE: It was that bad?DEVYN: The house became girls vs. boys. And it's not that I favor girls more than guys. I typically have more guy friends than girls so that’s so not the case. Yesterday as we were doing the photo shoot, you could see the boys start cracking, like in between bickering and throwing hissy fits, and even the photographer even commented about it, like "What's up with the boys?" And we would do some shots with the boys, and he would be like oh my god, you guys are so much more peaceful.
BWE: Why did you come on the show?DEVYN: Well the real reason I came on the show is… well there are 2 reasons. I am a theater and performance major, and entertainment is my life. I love acting and performing, and I've been doing it seriously since I could talk and walk and this is an excellent platform to get out there. I definitely want to establish myself as an entertainer the right way. I want to be credible, but when there are millions of others just like me - just as talented, if not more so - auditioning, it's always good to have an edge. I thought, well having an impressive resume and having this behind your name, and a little bit of notoriety already will give me that edge. So when I am auditioning I am not just that other girl - I am that girl that was on Real World and the girl that always had a small following. And the superficial reason: I knew I would get a show. Actually I met some former Real Worlders and for a News Year's party, and I was basically the VP of this party, and I met some of them and was like...they are getting paid $4,000 a piece to come to this party and drink alcohol. And some of them I could tell there was something about them that they got on the show but others I thought, “If you got on, then I can.” And this was a year ago, and who knew I would be here now.
BWE: What was it like living in this neighborhood with like nothing else around?DEVYN: Oh my gosh, it's not about the fact that there is nothing else around. It's about that this is a murder haven. I was standing on the corner and this low rider car drives by really slowly - like really creepy. And then 5 minutes later it drives back around, and literally almost drives up on the curve, and I was like oh my god. Then it pulls over, flashes its light against me, and these guys were like "what are you doing over here?" I was like oh I'm waiting for a car service, and he was like “You know this isn’t safe.” Basically they were undercover cops, they were actually very nice, and they were like "you can not be standing out here. What are you doing? Do you see that house over there? They go over there to exchange drugs. Do you see that street down there? That’s a dead end. You do not need to be over here.” And I'm about to start crying. I'm like oh my god, do you know how many times I stood out here by myself? Like waiting for a cab and the camera crew does not follow probably because they know it's bad, and they do not want their camera to get messed up? So I'm like out there by myself, with no cell phone, and I was freaking out. For Halloween I was Barbie and people questioned whether I was porno Barbie and…
BWE: Well, Barbie is Barbie….DEVYN: Well I wore a size 2 dress, and I typically wear a size 4 or 6. But with that said, they did send a gentleman out with me [to the street corner] and it took an hour and a half for a car service but at least they did send someone out with me, because they said you can't be out on the street corner wearing that in Brooklyn.
BWE: When you went out into Manhattan with the camera crew, was everyone excited that they were with the Real World crew?DEVYN: There were some people who were excited about it. There were a lot of haters. There were more haters in the Brooklyn area then there were anywhere else. One of my ex-boyfriends came to the house, but I tend to date guys that don’t like this. They have their own careers so this is not their “be all end all.” Plus this is my own space. You have to be at a high level to come into the house.
BWE: Britney or Christina?DEVYN: Christina because she is more talented. Source: Best Week Ever | 13 Jan 2009 | 10:00 pm
Seeing the ample (and amply hairy) lead singer Pink Eyes gambol about the stage screaming might indeed make you think, that's fucked up. But the band's first official video — shot during their marathon twelve-hour show featuring the Vivian Girls on the Lower East Side last year — doesn't take away from the melody embedded in the hardcore-punk revival sound of "Crooked Head." It's damn near pretty, Pink Eyes aside.
As brought to our attention by a helpful commenter, NBC has announced in a press release that beloved president George W. Bush's farewell speech will not interrupt this Thursday's The Office at 9, but will instead air at 8 in place of Kath & Kim. We take back all the mean things we ever said about him. [NBC]
We at Intel in no way condone shoplifting. Jessica is still traumatized from getting banned from Bradlee's for stealing a tube of Revlon's "Cherries in the Snow" way back in the twentieth century, and Chris—and this is such a Chris story—still has the occasional pang of guilt about the packet of tissues that he accidentally stole, even though he went back and paid for them. But we can't help but be impressed with what one underemployed freelancer told Gothamist he brought home from a mission at Whole Foods: "three pounds of wild tuna, two pounds cod fish, one pound of walnuts, three pieces of brie cheese, four carry-on bags of pre-made sushi, one bottle of the best quality Italian olive oil." Nice. See kids? Being unemployed won't be so bad. Provided you have the guts, thievery in the Greatest Depression is much more fruitful than it was in 1929.
LEONA LEWIS gets up close and personal with CHACE CRAWFORD in her new video.
The Run singer asked the Gossip Girl star to appear in the promo for I Will Be after meeting him at a party in London.
He readily agreed and the pair have now finished filming in New York.
Leona admits she’s a huge fan of the teen idol and recently gushed about him on her blog.
She wrote: “I also got to work with Chace Crawford, who is one of the nicest people I’ve met, super talented and he’s in one of my new fave series’ Gossip Girl.”
I Will Be was originally written and recorded by AVRIL LAVIGNE and was covered by Leona on her debut album Spirit.
Londoners who like to dress up their dogs should get it out of their system before the practice gets them into trouble. The RSPCA says that putting boots, all-in-one trousers, and hoodies on dogs could be harmful to them, and the organization may start prosecuting owners who "overdress" their pets if they think an animal's welfare is at risk. They're concerned about people getting pets as fashion accessories. "Taking on an animal is a long-term commitment. It's quite humiliating and sends out the wrong message about pet care," says an RSPCA spokeswoman. [Daily Mail via Racked]
Finally, Lindsay Lohan's spring ads for Italian lifestyle brand Fornarina are out. We learned that Lohan landed the campaign back in May and confess that this isn't exactly what we had in mind. It's more, how should we say, going to a debauched costume party as Dorothy on the Fourth of July than we expected. Lohan looks fabulous, but the clothes just aren't her style. Say what you will about her leggings line — and we've said plenty — but we prefer her in her 6126 ads. You know, a little more vamp, a little less tart. See more photos after the jump.
Whitney Port may be taking a break from city living – but the reality star is still hard at work, filming scenes for her MTV show The City while catching some rays on the beach in Miami on Sunday. Port was also joined in the Sunshine State by beau Jay Lyon (not pictured).
Mel B has admitted that she never diets – despite having one of the most envied bodies in showbiz.
The 33-year-old looks better than ever, even after having 2 kids – Phoenix, 9, from her marriage to dancer Jimmy Gulzar, and Angel, 21 months, with actor Eddie Murphy.
'I don’t believe in diets,' she tells Now. 'I stick to a healthy regime where you don’t have to starve your body. Just eat every 2 to 3 hours and keep it high protein with simple carbs.'
The former Spice Girl, who's married to Stephen Belafonte, 33, has recently launched her own fitness DVD Totally Fit, which she promises can give anyone killer abs.
'My abs are down to that [workout] but you've got to keep it up,' Mel explains. 'I've been doing my 3-minute abs for the last 8 years.'
Mel also reveals that she hangs out with Jordan – aka Katie Price, 30 – when she's in America.
'Jordan’s hilarious. She’s a character,' she says. 'We always try to meet up whenever she comes to LA.'
Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban could find themselves parents again if the country singer gets his way.
Keith, 41, has made no secret of the fact he'd love a brother or sister for Sunday Rose, 6 months.
‘It’s unbelievable how much Keith has changed since Sunday came along,’ a friend tells Now. ‘He loves it [being a father].
'Keith says Sunday’s helped him to conquer his demons and he’s been happy to play the house husband while Nicole’s travelled the world promoting her movie Australia.
'He’s loving it so much that he’s putting pressure on Nicole to have another child already.’
The couple now divide their time between homes in Nashville and LA, where Nicole’s adopted children Isabella, 16, and Connor, 13, live with her ex Tom Cruise, 46.
Yesterday, news broke of Steven Alan's spring Uniqlo line. Refinery 29 reports that Opening Ceremony is rumored to be doing a Uniqlo collaboration, as well. Yeah, we'd line up early for that one. [Refinery 29]
Katie Holmes is said to be under strict instructions to put on at least a stone to prepare her body to carry a sibling for daughter Suri, 2.
Husband Tom Cruise, 46, has never made a secret of wanting a huge family. He told a newspaper recently: ‘I want 10 children. I love kids.’
A source tells Now: ‘Tom believes Katie needs to focus on their family again. She’s had her time being “Katie Holmes” instead of just Tom’s wife, but in return she agreed to have a second child as soon as that time’s over. In Tom’s eyes, that’s now.
‘Tom badly wants a baby. He thinks that if Katie has a little more weight on her, it’ll help the conception and also be healthier for her and the baby during pregnancy.
'He wants them to be parents again by the end of the year.
‘As far as Tom’s concerned, he kept his side of the bargain by allowing Katie to concentrate on her career; now it’s time for her to keep hers.’
Eva Longoria has made no secret of the fact that she wants to start a family with husband Tony Parker.
But that dream has yet to become a reality and it’s said to be breaking her heart.
‘Eva was convinced she’d fall pregnant last summer and even told Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry that she was trying,’ a friend tells Now.
‘She and Tony are in despair because they’ve been trying for a while now without success.'
Eva, 33, admitted last summer that she was hoping to one day hear the pitter-patter of tiny feet, saying: ‘God will give us a child when He feels the time is right.’
There were rumours she and basketball star Tony, 26, were soon to make an announcement as Eva was often pictured in baggy clothes. But the star says she just put on weight for her role as Gabrielle Solis.
Our source says: ‘Eva gets really upset about it all and says that a baby would make her family complete.
'She and Tony are so happy together and he longs to be a dad. But nothing’s happened yet.’
Victoria Beckham is the proud owner of an £80,000 Hermes handbag.
The fashionista, 34, showed off the diamond-studded Birkin Himalayan in Dubai as husband David, 33, made his debut for AC Milan.
It is thought she was given the bag over Christmas.
‘It’s not as easy as everyone would think for David buying his missus a present every year,’ a source tells The Sun. 'She is the woman with everything.
‘But David knows the French fashion house is her favorite and he sorted the gift in Los Angele's from one of the few powerful fashion buyers who could get one.
'She was delighted, a relief at that price.’
The bag is thought to be one of only three in the world.
Front Page: Doug Allen keeps job after two-day session -- In the last two days, the Screen Actors Guild has been full of sound and fury, signifying ... the status quo.
When it was announced that Jimmy Fallon would be Conan O'Brien's replacement as the host of NBC's storied Late Night franchise, most observers let out an audible groan. After all, both of his attempts to become a leading man of the silver screen were inarguable failures both on the creative and box-office fronts, and his time on SNL was remembered less for the memorable characters he created and more for all the time he spent corpsing in Studio 8H. However, over the last month and some change, Fallon has been slowly yet surely winning people over, thanks in large part to the nightly videos being posted over at his website. Along the way, he caught the eye of New York Times digital-culture writer Virginia Heffernan, who penned a glowing review of Fallon's online work that stops just short of being a love letter.
We kid, we kid. Heffernan wasn't really penning a love letter to Fallon (even if, at times, it kind of reads that way). Rather, her piece was written from an interesting perspective, one in which she dropped her narrative guard as "critic" and instead put herself in the position of being just another one of Fallon's fans, one who follows Fallon's online life very closely (via his blog, his Twitter, etc.) and competes for his attention. As she writes, "I also like him because he was once part of a male-female comedy team and was dusted, careerwise, by his 'Weekend Update' desk partner, Tina Fey. I root for him for the same reason I root for Elaine May." Gotta love the old "knock 'em down to build 'em up" stylistic choice.
And, as you might expect, Heffernan isn't the only one who's been won over. Fallon has racked up a considerable number of online fans already (over 10,000 people are following him on Twitter), by proving himself to be a genial internet presence who seems to possess a genuine sense of curiosity about today's online culture. He even managed to win over the notoriously hard-to-please geeks who were running amok at last week's Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas.
A lot of the credit for Fallon's largely successful online debut should go to Late Night associate producer Gavin Purcell, who left his post as Executive Producer on G4 TV's network-defining Attack Of The Show to work with Fallon. [Full disclosure: Gavin and I are Facebook, if not quite "real life," friends.] Purcell is equally well-versed in geek and television culture, and has been actively involved in tweaking the late-night format to appeal to younger viewers, who spend more time online than watching TV. The show promises to be quite different than what we have come to expect from a late-night talk show, as Purcell explains in this recent interview during CES.
However, as successful as the team has been in cultivating Fallon's online presence, everyone knows that the real test will come when Fallon takes to the airwaves on March 2. We reserve the right to go either way with our opinion on the show when it airs, but, at the moment, we're looking forward to it way more than we're dreading it. Which, in all honesty, is certainly not something we would've said a month ago.
For reasons I don’t understand, Jennifer Lopez was invited to present at last night’s Golden Globe Awards. While Jennifer walked the red carpet with husband Marc Anthony, she wasn’t shy about showing her ringless wedding band finger while presenting.
Although the couple deny marital issues, rumors surfaced last month that the marriage was at the breaking point. Sources suggested last night’s ringless display was not an accident.
“They both didn’t wear their rings on purpose,” a mutual pal of the married couple of four years (who renewed their vows in October) told Us. “Nothing Jennifer does is without purpose.”
Anthony’s rep has insisted, “They are doing great.”
Controversy aside, Jennifer looked great in a gold gown by Marchesa.
Both the Yankees and the Mets will have special patches on their uniforms to recognize their first seasons in new stadiums. But the Yankees' patch is snazzy, while the Mets' patch looks like a graphics-design dropout designed it for a line of generic groceries. The QueensCrap blogger compares it to the Domino's Pizza logo, but we don't even think it looks that good. Mmm. Pizza. [LoHud.com via Queens Crap]
Israel's "Waltz with Bashir" by director Ari Folman, seen here on January 10, 2009, was on Tuesday named on a shortlist of nine movies vying for the Oscars' coveted foreign language film award. Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 13 Jan 2009 | 8:37 pm
It's time to take a ride on the sob train folks. Meet Heeah, the 20-year-old woman with a rare condition known as phocomelia, a symptom of which is having only four fingers. Despite her challenges, Heeah can play the piano like an angel. This video is 10 minutes long, but at the very least, please watch the first minute, wherein Heeah plays for a group of old white folk. The narrator claims that the crowd is "moved to tears" and filled with disbelief. But judging from their expressions, they have NO idea what is going on. As for the rest of the video, it's a pretty incredible story. All I can say is, I feel like a lazy, ungrateful b*tch after watching it.
The best old white people were exactly at the 0:28 mark, but I've got a screen grab of them after the jump if you'd like to remember:
Laurent and Jean de Brunhoff's Babar and his teammates are going all out to win the famous Celesteville Regatta (1989).
Babar and his teammates are going all out to win the famous Celesteville
Regatta. Half the charm of Laurent and Jean de Brunhoff's drawings are in the titles. In these spry, exuberant sketches on view at Mary Ryan Gallery through January 17, the life of Babar, that pompous, well-meaning dandy of an elephant, unfolds.
If you have $3 million, you might be in the market for a loft in Richard Meier’s original New York building at 173 Perry Street. There are two full beds, two full baths, and floor-to-ceiling windows. S. Jhoanna Robledo toured the space with Wendy Maitland of Brown Harris Stevens, who describes the property as “a beautiful starchitect envelope and a highly personalized home.” Plus, the seller just knocked half a million off the asking price. Watch the video to see where you should put your couch.
A closeup of an installation by Czech sculptor David Cerny shows a representation of Romania, part of Entropa exhibition in the atrium of the European Council headquarters in Brussels. Cerny said Tuesday... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 13 Jan 2009 | 8:29 pm
Fashion Wire Daily - Anyone who suggests that Brazil has little to add in the global world of style should have spent Monday in Rio de Janeiro, where two cleverly crafted and artfully staged shows spoke loudly about our generation's obsession with ecology and the threat our own species represents to the planet on which we live.
Either Rowan Atkinson landed a role in the London production of "Oliver!" or years of clumsy acts like blowing up a vomit-filled barf bag on an airplane and destroying priceless rare books with a crayon finally had their karmic consequences.
Oh, look, we gave it away. It's James B. Lockhart!
Today on VF.com, writer C. Brian Smith has a story about his personal relationship with the outgoing Bush clan and how he (like many people at the moment) grappled with his affection for them personally, and his distaste for the patriarch's actions as president. While it won't teach you anything new about politics (or, really, the Bush family, unless you didn't know about Dubya's penchant for fart jokes), it's notable for two reasons in particular. To begin with, the unspoken oath of omertà held among all Bush-family intimates is broken even more rarely than the one shared by administration colleagues. That this story is a deliberate breach of that is uncomfortably clear in the writer's prose. DI editor Chris knows Smith from school, and can imagine knows that there are probably several people who are peeved at him today.
The second, and much more hilarious, reason why this article is of note is this: In it, Smith refers to an unnamed Bush pal from his Andover days:
I mention to the president that we have a mutual friend, the father of one of my classmates. I’ve barely uttered the name before the president starts shouting, “The Juice Man!” Only later do I learn that the nickname goes back to the Juice Man’s days at Andover, where he and Bush were friends, and, I’m told, he often suffered horrible diarrhea.
Well, that could be anybody, right? Not quite. Bush famously (and sometimes problematically) brought a few of his best Andover friends along with him to Washington. One of them was James B. Lockhart, a former Social Security official who ended up overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2005. According to the Times, Lockhart was the guy under whose watch the two agencies "plunged into the riskiest part of the market, gobbling up more than $400 billion in subprime and other alternative mortgages." After that, he continued to push to ease restrictions on their power to buy mortgage-backed securities, making public assurances that all was well nearly up until the day both companies' stocks lost half of their value.
Anyway, we happen to know Lockhart also happens to have a kid who was Yale buddies with Smith. So there you have it: "the Juice Man." And, forgive us, but we must point out the takeaway: At least one of George Bush's men who helped flush America's liquidity down the toilet has, apparently, been practicing the move his whole life.
I have no idea what is going on here, or why one of these dogs is a puppet, but the little dogs know what's up and they want OUT. Mommy dog is giving them the death stare because they're just calling more attention to the situation.
You know, I was just wondering what Kathryn Erbe fromLaw & Orderdoes on the weekends. Apparently she goes to puppy charity events with Howard Stern's wife. And plays with a terrifying dog puppet whose frozen expression of cracked out joy gives me the willies. Source: Best Week Ever | 13 Jan 2009 | 7:33 pm
Robert Jaffe, the sharp-dressed head of a feeder fund that funneled millions of dollars into Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme, didn't show up to a scheduled meeting with the Massachusetts Securities Division this morning. So far, it's unclear why. "He's not coming," a spokesman for the Securities Division told the Boston Globe. "What happens next is to be determined." Well. This looks rather bad. Jaffe was subpoenaed because investigators want to question him about how much he knew about Madoff’s investment practices; he's also the son-in-law of Carl Shapiro, the Palm Beach billionaire whose $300 million loan Madoff planned to use as a stopgap to keep his Ponzi scheme going a little while longer. Perhaps he fears investigators will discover something and force him to leave the good life behind? Jaffe would hate that. “Once you’ve had filet mignon, you don’t want to go back,” he once told WWD.
They've pun it again. (Note, the above image is courtesy of Slate, who actually came up with this dream flavor last March, only to make it a reality.)
In other news, I'll be in D.C. next week for the Inauguration, and will bring you live-ish reports from the madness! So if you happen to have a couple of tickets laying around to a "fill in the blank here" black tie event, do let me know. I have no less than 4 floor-length gowns with elbow-length gloves to match that are just dying to be worn. Source: Best Week Ever | 13 Jan 2009 | 6:40 pm
For nine years, "CSI" star William Petersen has had it all. And that was exactly the problem. "The reason I'm leaving is because I'm afraid I'm becoming too comfortable," says Petersen. His final "CSI" episode is scheduled to air Thursday.
OMG, you, too, moved to New York because of Desperately Seeking Susan (in which Madonna trades her leather pyramid jacket for rhinestone boots at the shop Love Saves the Day)?! Well, you can cry right along with us, then: After nearly twenty years on 7th Street and Avenue A Second Avenue and a few months of closing-out sales, the iconic purveyor of all manner of wacky kitsch will finally exist only at its sister shop in New Hope, Pennsylvania. As Jeremiah's Vanishing New York puts it, "That's a long way to go for Star Wars action figures and rubber poop." [EV Grieve]
I don't ordinarily enjoy discussing my dreams with other people, partly because I'm bored to death whenever other people tell me about their dreams, but also because despite what many dreamologists (real word) claim, I rarely feel like my dreams have to do with anything in my life, even by the biggest symbolic "this thing probably represents this other unrelated thing!" stretches.
Last night, however, was an exception. I had a dream that the ceiling in my room had a crack in the top that kept getting worse and worse, then it finally exploded, and covered myself, my entire room, and everything I own in sh*t. Literal smelly, disgusting sh*t. And there was absolutely no resolution to this dilemma, either -- I realized in the dream that I would have to permanently move out of my sh*t-filled apartment, I'd have to throw out all my disgusting, diseased clothes and belongings, and the dream ended with me leaving to take a shower. This had to be symbolic, right? Could it mean:
A) I'm worried about something major on the horizon, afraid it's about to break through and greatly disrupt my life?
B) I need to ditch my possessions and surroundings and possibly incur a major change in the way I look at the world?
B) I need to get my landlord to fix more stuff at my apartment? (true!)
C) I'm constantly, deathly afraid of appearing in one of those Epic Movie movies and getting covered in sh*t? Ding Ding!!! Correct answer!
Alright, BWE brethren -- what's the most obviously-symbolic dream you've ever had? Doesn't have to be defecation-related, but it can be. Describe at your own risk. Source: Best Week Ever | 13 Jan 2009 | 6:30 pm
(Ed. Note: Please note that this post was written by a Microsoft user. And even though I want to put Internet Explorer in a virtual burlap sack and drown it in the acid vat from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, I also don't have the patience and/or money to become an Apple user.)
Our good friend Lindsay over at Videogum has come across a veritable feast of internetty delight in the commercial for the Microsoft Songsmith. What can someone really say about the Microsoft Songsmith ad? Since there is literally no way to describe what you are about to see, please, please watch the entire thing. And then read on for my controversial theory:
Lindsay believes that the above video was made with zero irony or sarcasm, saying, "It's like Microsoft found some kind of home-schooling Christian commune in the woods and hired them to make their commercial."
But I have a different theory. I'm about to give Microsoft way too much credit and say that the commercial is SO meta that it has gone ahead removed all traces of meta-ness. "Wait," you're saying, "that makes no sense." Doesn't it? Doesn't it?Microsoft is looking for its next viral hit. It appears that they've hit the mark, creating a video that is the epitome of media unsavvy in this hyper-savvy world. It's like the M. Night Shyamalan of viral ads! But there are some hints that the creators of the Songsmith ad were in on the joke.
For example:
The effeminate father with the terrible singing voice. He's on the verge of losing his job as a jingle writer. He eventually hits the jackpot, writing a jingle about GLOW IN THE DARK towels with the lyrics "Sometimes it's dark, but you still need to get dry." Sometimes it's dark... but you still need to get dry. Hmm...
This same gay Dad is seen moments later pitchily singing about his struggles in a dark closet. Struggling. In the closet. In the dark. With a towel...
His poor, unsuspecting wife.
The Indian coffee house guy, whose band accuses his songs of being "a little stale". And right after he cranks up the ol' Jazzy meter, he breaks out into the cheesiest ass MIDI file jam about writing love songs.
The video is so unself-aware as to be extremely self-aware. The commercial is already raking in the views, and dare I say, for the first time in my entire adult life: Well played, Microsoft. Well played.
Off to buy me a Songsmith, a vocoder, and a glow-in-the-dark towel. And a shotgun. Source: Best Week Ever | 13 Jan 2009 | 6:13 pm
US singer Beyonce Knowles, seen here in 2008, will be among a galaxy of stars tol perform for crowds at a free celebration of Barack Obama's inauguration to take place on Sunday at Washington's iconic... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 13 Jan 2009 | 6:01 pm
Front Page: Genachowski's name submitted for approval -- President-elect Barack Obama is turning to an old Harvard Law School pal to steer his administration's telecom policy agenda at the FCC.
A host of unusual covers can be found on "Covered, A Revolution in Sound: Warner Bros. Records," due Feb. 24. On it, 11 current Warner Music Group acts cover a classic tune from the label's back catalog.
Despite being four months pregnant Kelly Rutherford filed for divorce from her multi-millionaire hubby Daniel Giersch just a couple of weeks ago, and it looks as though the custody battle for their two-year-old son Hermes is heating up.
The chief executive of the Cape Town Film Studio project, Nico Dekker, has helped helped turn South Africa into a top-notch movie-making spot. Cape Town Film Studios, initially named Dreamworld, lies 25... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 13 Jan 2009 | 5:26 pm
The chief executive of the Cape Town Film Studio project, Nico Dekker, posing on land near Cape Town, where construction recently started to turn 200 hectares (nearly 500 acres) near pristine wetlands... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 13 Jan 2009 | 5:26 pm
Front Page: Silicon Valley vet Carol Bartz to replace Yang -- Yahoo has found its new top executive -- Autodesk exec chair Carol Bartz -- and will lose its No. 2 exec in the process.
Front Page: Oscar-winning trio leaves CAA for new agency -- Endeavor has signed Oscar winners Jessica Lange, William Hurt and Anthony Hopkins. The trio had been repped by CAA.
John Travolta, in a letter thanking his Ocala, Florida, neighbors for sympathy shown in the wake of his teenage son's death, asked them to love their friends and family "like there was no tomorrow."
Front Page: Big numbers for 'Big Bang Theory,' 'Mother' -- Even before "American Idol" kicked off Tuesday night, Fox scored a ratings bounty last week courtesy of postseason pigskin action.
Front Page: Network committed to avoiding layoffs -- Unlike several of its competitors, the Fox network doesn't plan to make any major employee cuts -- at least for now.
Reuters - Dolce and Gabbana's next advertising campaign is likely to offend with a portrayal of men praying, say the Italian designers who had to withdraw an advert two years ago when it was branded as humiliating women.
Josh Schwartz plans to make good use of the indie rock bands appearing in his upcoming online endeavor "Rockville," putting their entire exclusive performances online.
AP - When Nintendo started its WiiWare download service last May, the range of its original games was laudable, with the action, puzzle, strategy and simulation genres all represented. The games themselves weren't all that great, but the promise was there.
As Slipknot prepares to hit the road for tours celebrating the 10th anniversary of the masked Iowa group's first album, frontman Corey Taylor is making plans to record his first solo album rather than go back to his other band, Stone Sour, at the end of the cycle.
Rourke said in a GQ interview that Bush wasn't given much of a choice but to respond to the Sept. 11 terror attacks, and that the War on Terror goes way beyond his presidency
It's that time again...
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The film's star Chris Pine told us not too long ago that the upcoming installment of the outer-space franchise has...
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• It's always nice to see someone throw a little work LiLo's way. Maybe if she cleaned up her weave, she could score a few more gigs.
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Last night, the new home of America's Next Top Model: Obsessed, 
Editor's note: Michelle and Sara had the opportunity to sit down with each of the cast members of the new season of The Real World. Using their signature brand of tag-team tough-question journalism that comes from minutes of experience, the ladies dug deep into the psyches of the cast members. We will be bringing you interviews with each cast member over the coming days! The Real World: Brooklyn airs on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on MTV. For constant stimulation, you can also check out 
BWE: It was that bad?
DEVYN: The house became girls vs. boys. And it's not that I favor girls more than guys. I typically have more guy friends than girls so that’s so not the case. Yesterday as we were doing the photo shoot, you could see the boys start cracking, like in between bickering and throwing hissy fits, and even the photographer even commented about it, like "What's up with the boys?" And we would do some shots with the boys, and he would be like oh my god, you guys are so much more peaceful.
BWE: Why did you come on the show?
DEVYN: Well the real reason I came on the show is… well there are 2 reasons. I am a theater and performance major, and entertainment is my life. I love acting and performing, and I've been doing it seriously since I could talk and walk and this is an excellent platform to get out there. I definitely want to establish myself as an entertainer the right way. I want to be credible, but when there are millions of others just like me - just as talented, if not more so - auditioning, it's always good to have an edge. I thought, well having an impressive resume and having this behind your name, and a little bit of notoriety already will give me that edge. So when I am auditioning I am not just that other girl - I am that girl that was on Real World and the girl that always had a small following. And the superficial reason: I knew I would get a show. Actually I met some former Real Worlders and for a News Year's party, and I was basically the VP of this party, and I met some of them and was like...they are getting paid $4,000 a piece to come to this party and drink alcohol. And some of them I could tell there was something about them that they got on the show but others I thought, “If you got on, then I can.” And this was a year ago, and who knew I would be here now.
BWE: What was it like living in this neighborhood with like nothing else around?
DEVYN: Oh my gosh, it's not about the fact that there is nothing else around. It's about that this is a murder haven. I was standing on the corner and this low rider car drives by really slowly - like really creepy. And then 5 minutes later it drives back around, and literally almost drives up on the curve, and I was like oh my god. Then it pulls over, flashes its light against me, and these guys were like "what are you doing over here?" I was like oh I'm waiting for a car service, and he was like “You know this isn’t safe.” Basically they were undercover cops, they were actually very nice, and they were like "you can not be standing out here. What are you doing? Do you see that house over there? They go over there to exchange drugs. Do you see that street down there? That’s a dead end. You do not need to be over here.” And I'm about to start crying. I'm like oh my god, do you know how many times I stood out here by myself? Like waiting for a cab and the camera crew does not follow probably because they know it's bad, and they do not want their camera to get messed up? So I'm like out there by myself, with no cell phone, and I was freaking out. For Halloween I was Barbie and people questioned whether I was porno Barbie and…
BWE: Well, Barbie is Barbie….
DEVYN: Well I wore a size 2 dress, and I typically wear a size 4 or 6. But with that said, they did send a gentleman out with me [to the street corner] and it took an hour and a half for a car service but at least they did send someone out with me, because they said you can't be out on the street corner wearing that in Brooklyn.
BWE: When you went out into Manhattan with the camera crew, was everyone excited that they were with the Real World crew?
DEVYN: There were some people who were excited about it. There were a lot of haters. There were more haters in the Brooklyn area then there were anywhere else. One of my ex-boyfriends came to the house, but I tend to date guys that don’t like this. They have their own careers so this is not their “be all end all.” Plus this is my own space. You have to be at a high level to come into the house.
BWE: Britney or Christina?
DEVYN: Christina because she is more talented.
It's time to take a ride on the sob train folks. Meet Heeah, the 20-year-old woman with a rare condition known as phocomelia, a symptom of which is having only four fingers. Despite her challenges, Heeah can play the piano like an angel. This video is 10 minutes long, but at the very least, please watch the first minute, wherein Heeah plays for a group of old white folk. The narrator claims that the crowd is "moved to tears" and filled with disbelief. But judging from their expressions, they have NO idea what is going on. As for the rest of the video, it's a pretty incredible story. All I can say is, I feel like a lazy, ungrateful b*tch after watching it.
I don't ordinarily enjoy discussing my dreams with other people, partly because I'm bored to death whenever other people tell me about their dreams, but also because despite what many dreamologists (real word) claim, I rarely feel like my dreams have to do with anything in my life, even by the biggest symbolic "this thing probably represents this other unrelated thing!" stretches.
Last night, however, was an exception. I had a dream that the ceiling in my room had a crack in the top that kept getting worse and worse, then it finally exploded, and covered myself, my entire room, and everything I own in sh*t. Literal smelly, disgusting sh*t. And there was absolutely no resolution to this dilemma, either -- I realized in the dream that I would have to permanently move out of my sh*t-filled apartment, I'd have to throw out all my disgusting, diseased clothes and belongings, and the dream ended with me leaving to take a shower. This had to be symbolic, right? Could it mean:
A) I'm worried about something major on the horizon, afraid it's about to break through and greatly disrupt my life?
B) I need to ditch my possessions and surroundings and possibly incur a major change in the way I look at the world?
B) I need to get my landlord to fix more stuff at my apartment? (true!)
C) I'm constantly, deathly afraid of appearing in one of those Epic Movie movies and getting covered in sh*t? Ding Ding!!! Correct answer!
Alright, BWE brethren -- what's the most obviously-symbolic dream you've ever had? Doesn't have to be defecation-related, but it can be. Describe at your own risk. 
Microsoft is looking for its next viral hit. It appears that they've hit the mark, creating a video that is the epitome of media unsavvy in this hyper-savvy world. It's like the M. Night Shyamalan of viral ads! But there are some hints that the creators of the Songsmith ad were in on the joke.
For example:
