I didn’t know him that well before this, but he’s been very involved in the process — he and David have worked together a lot in the rehearsal room. You know, when you have a living playwright, it’s always wonderful when they’re around because they’re obviously the best resource.

What interested you about playing Lili Adler?
She’s really quicksilver, she turns on a dime, and I think that’s something that’s very special about Rich’s writing — it surprises in sometimes the most wonderful and sometimes the most gut-wrenching ways, but he gets into the underbelly of human relationships, and all of these relationships are so complicated, and there’s so much sort of misfiring and lost intention. The truth about this play is that everyone falls desperately in love, and it can make you act outside of yourself. She’s such a fiercely intelligent, witty girl on the one hand; on the other hand, she’s incredibly sheltered, she has really no idea how to interact with people, and she’s been kept in such a sort of solitary confinement that she’s sort of educated herself.

The play also mentions that she falls in love every summer. Do you think she’s just looking for a way out and here’s this attractive guy…?
I guess I would say that, for my money, no, I think she’s never experienced love like this or these sorts of feelings. I think in the past they were a little different than Nick — I don’t think they really looked like that [laughs] — but I think, yes, of course, it’s always a way out and it’s always a possible light and escape and distraction.

And what about his feelings toward her?
They’re all very complicated, but do I think he’s really in love with her? Yes, I do. And I can say with assuredness that Kieran [Campion], the actor who plays Nick, would agree, because we spent a lot of time talking about that exact thing.

What was it like working with Mercedes Ruehl?
I loved her from the moment I met her, and I love her more and more every day. She’s such a stage creature — she’s so alive and present at all times and brave and smart. We’ve been dressing for each other [laughs]. Well, I failed today, but she really threw down the gauntlet last week with some fuchsia Uggs, so I have to think of something good to get back in the game.

You also have the movie All Good Things coming up, in which you play Ryan Gosling’s best friend. Can you tell us about your role in that?
The movie is directed by Andrew Jarecki, who did Capturing the Friedmans, and the script is amazing. It’s based on a true story — the movie’s about Robert Durst. Anyway, the woman my character is based on was this sort of Jewish, mafia princess — her dad was a total mobster, one of the founders of Las Vegas. During the process, I met this man who had been her roommate and best friend — another one of her best friends — and saw great footage of her. She was quite a personality, and people sort of came out of the woodwork to tell me stories about her.

Related: The Annotated Script: 'The American Plan'

Read more posts by Lori Fradkin

Filed Under: chat room, lily rabe, the american plan, theater

Source: Vulture | 22 Jan 2009 | 9:48 pm

'Reader' beats odds, nabs Oscar nom

Front Page: Film garners four nominees despite rough road -- With a backstory that provided more drama than the average WWII movie, "The Reader" not long ago seemed destined to be remembered more for its troubled production than for any awards season accolades.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 22 Jan 2009 | 9:46 pm

Hey, at Least We Don’t Have to Host the Olympics

Think New York City is in tough shape now? Just imagine if Mayor Bloomberg had succeeded in his dream of luring the 2012 Olympic Games to New York. In the midst of this downturn, we'd be building archery ranges and badminton courts, not to mention a gigantic stadium on the West Side. Plus there'd be loads and loads of athlete housing that would, after the games, be heaped on top of a moribund real-estate market. But our near miss is London's nightmare, as the Guardian reports. The British government, which makes our own look positively flush, has had to step in and bail out the construction of an athletes village and a fancy media center to the tune of several hundred million pounds. Private investors, apparently, have better use for their cash. Londoners can pray, and maybe we all should, that by the time the Games roll around, the current troubles will be safely behind us, and London will be blessed with the world's finest urban facilities for team handball and white-water kayaking. Meanwhile, all we have is ... oh, yeah. Two lavish, taxpayer-supported palaces for our local baseball teams. But whatever, we'll take baseball over badminton any day.

Government Forced to Bail Out Major Olympic Projects [Guardian UK]

Read more posts by Hugo Lindgren

Filed Under: lets get civical, london, mayor bloomberg, Olympics

Source: Daily Intel | 22 Jan 2009 | 9:45 pm

Martha Stewart Says Cock On National Television

Spatchcocking. We may not have any clue as to what it means, but we certainly know this: It makes our beloved Martha Stewart sound like a dirty poor person. So, for those of you who dream for Martha to talk dirty to you (i.e. all of you), enjoy!

Who knew that throwing the word "spatch" in front of a dirtier word such as "cock" made it OK to say on TV? (AP)

AP - An explosion of energy, cheekiness and joy capable of sweeping away even the densest clouds of financial gloom and doom shook eccentric French designer Jean Paul Gaultier's menswear-in-name-only show Thursday.

Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 22 Jan 2009 | 9:39 pm

Who Is the Mad Sledding Father of Park Slope?

Yesterday, there were reports that a child was (thankfully only mildly) hurt amid a sledding frenzy in Prospect Park. But today, we learn the Ugly Truth: It was a Park Slope dad who sledded into that kid, then just walked away and left him there! What gives, Mad Dad? Were you trying to take that kid out because he and your kid were tied for the last slot left in next year's class at Berkeley Carroll? [Gowanus Lounge]

Read more posts by Tim Murphy

Filed Under: bad dads, neighborhood watch, park slope

Source: Daily Intel | 22 Jan 2009 | 9:35 pm

Barneys May Be for Sale

Takers?

Less than two years ago, Dubai’s Istithmar World PJSC bought Barneys for $942.3 million. But now, as business slows in the face of a floundering luxury market, the fund (down 15 percent itself) is reportedly looking to sell the retailer. Istithmar doesn't want to sell Barneys for any less than it paid for it, but the sales pitch won't be easy. A luxury-market consultant says if Istithmar needs cash and is in a hurry to sell, it'll pay the price, but if it can "be patient" the pay off will come. That sounds optimistic for These Times. Maybe a little too optimistic. He added that it's unlikely a buyer would pay full price for Barneys, given the economic climate and the May departure of chief executive Howard Socol. Well, Barneys will carry Michelle Obama's Isabel Toledo Inauguration Day outfit in March. That's got to be worth something, right?

Barneys, Luxury Retailer, May Be Sold By Its Dubai-Based Owner [Bloomberg via Fashionista]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: barneys, everything must go, howard socol, istithmar

Source: The Cut | 22 Jan 2009 | 9:30 pm

The Stephon Marbury Rumored Destination of the Week: Greece!

According to rumors, hoaxes, and pure speculation, Stephon Marbury has been headed to the Boston Celtics, the Dallas Mavericks, and some team in Spain at various points over the past six months. So forgive us if we take any new news flash about his imminent departure with a grain of salt. But ESPN is reporting that Greek club Olympiacos has contacted the Knicks to find out what it would take to get Marbury out of his contract. (In case anyone from Olympiacos is reading this, by the way, we’d like to save you the cost of further long-distance calls: It’ll take a pile of money.)

And while it would be a little strange for Marbury to go oversees when there’s apparently interest in him from NBA teams, it would be almost fitting. Olympiacos, which is paying the now-injured former NBA player Josh Childress almost $11 million per year, would probably make it worth his while. And in the words of Steph himself, “It’s not really about the money, but it’s about the money. Feel me?” And after all the benchings, the buyout negotiations, Marbury’s refusal to play, his subsequent purchase of tickets to see his own team play, and all of the other nonsense from this season, the Knicks hammering out a deal to send him halfway around the world would be an appropriately bizarre ending to this saga. We’re not holding our breath, though. Like we said, grain of salt.

Sources: Olympiacos Eyes Marbury [ESPN]

Read more posts by Joe DeLessio

Filed Under: basketball, knicks, sports, stephon marbury, the sports section

Source: Daily Intel | 22 Jan 2009 | 9:15 pm

Yamamoto brings sleepwear onto the street (AP)

AP - Will Yohji Yamamoto do for sleepwear what Jean Paul Gaultier, creator of Madonna's mythical conical bra, did for lingerie?

Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 22 Jan 2009 | 9:06 pm

OPEN THREAD: Is This The Worst Mother On Earth?

Here's a tip to the London police, or "Bobbies": Put this little girl in jail. Because she is T minus 5 years away from chopping half the town to death with an axe and a death wish. It all started at 9:14 am today, when the Daily Mail published an article with this tastefully fonted title:

It's a confession few mothers would ever make. But here, one woman asks... So why can't I LOVE my own daughter? Shelley Price is about to admit to one of the great taboos of motherhood. No matter how hard she has tried, she says she can't bring herself to love her elder daughter, Catherine. 'I know what people will think. Everyone will hate me. I'm the woman who doesn't like her own child. But I'm speaking out because I'm convinced I'm not alone,' says the 33-year-old.

Hey, I'm not one to judge. I've never given birth, and if I did give birth, my child would definitely not look like a SAG extra in Children of the Corn VIII: Maizey Days. So the fact that this woman doesn't love her daughter... well, it seems sick, but it's clearly a struggle for her. Then again, I am totally one to judge. WHY WOULD YOU POSE WITH THIS VERY SAME UNLOVED CHILD IN THE TRASHIEST YET MOST ADDICTIVE BRITISH TABLOID IN THE WORLD??? It's a pretty reprehensible act, and one that will surely lead this young girl into a lifetime of porn acting and/or hosting her own web show called "Drinking for 18 Straight Hours a Day." Then again, in her mother's defense, can you imagine having to live with this every day? Feel free to defend this woman in the comments... I mean, she's no Susan Smith, that's for sure. And hey! If you want to tell us that you don't love your own kid, now is the time.
Source: Best Week Ever | 22 Jan 2009 | 9:00 pm

Frogurt, We Hardly Knew Ya

When we were first introduced to the character on last night's Lost known as Frogurt, we knew that the extraneous passenger on Daniel Faraday's motorized dinghy was not long for the island. After all, in the great television tradition pioneered by Star Trek, he was wearing a red shirt. And redshirts, as anyone who has taken an Intro to Television course in college will attest, are always the first to die. And die he did, catching a flaming arrow to the chest, Gladiator style. Although his time on the island was short, he did have a few insults lobbed his way by Sawyer, the most social interaction he'd had with a Lost series regular since a special mobisode with him and Hurley was broadcast a few years back*. Rest in peace, Frogurt; too bad you'll always be known to us as the Aaron Burr guy from the original "Got Milk?" commercial.

Here's the mobisode from November 2007 called "The Adventures of Hurley and Frogurt."

And here's Frogurt as he's best known to us:

*Which, we're not gonna lie, we never saw before this morning.

Read more posts by Mark Graham

Filed Under: Frogurt, Lost, Obit

Source: Vulture | 22 Jan 2009 | 9:00 pm

Thom Browne’s Florentine Boys, in Photographic Glory

Our latest designer crush (and guy we'd like to spend an evening hanging out with), Thom Browne, showed a collection-installation piece in Florence last week. After we finished cursing our lack of frequent-flier miles, we stopped and admired the genius of the work. Forty models wearing identical outfits (a shrunken gray suit, cardigan, wing tips, and camel overcoat) simultaneously took off their overcoats and jackets, sat at identical desks, and started typing. Sounds a bit like our office. And today we have new photos! Click ahead to see more of Thom's masterpiece. If that's not enough for you, check out the Gamme Bleu collection that walked in Milan, guest designed by, yup, Thom Browne.

Earlier: Thom Browne Showcases Tortured Manhood in Florence

Read more posts by Amina Akhtar

Filed Under: Best Things Ever, designers, fall 2009, florence, thom browne

Source: The Cut | 22 Jan 2009 | 8:53 pm

The Latest Theory: Caroline Pulls a Geithner

As the quest to discover Caroline Kennedy's true intentions continues, the Times and the Post are now hearing from a Governor Paterson insider that Kennedy "never had a shot" because her vetting revealed both tax issues and housekeeper issues — coincidentally, the exact combo that Treasury secretary nominee Timothy Geithner currently faces. Of course, other anonymous sources in the same articles claim Paterson had every intention of picking Kennedy, so what really happened is, at this point, still anyone's guess. But these certainly fit the bill as "personal issues" Kennedy would have preferred to keep private. [NYT, NYP]

Read more posts by Dan Amira

Filed Under: caroline kennedy, david paterson, early and often, hillary's senate seat, housekeepers, politics

Source: Daily Intel | 22 Jan 2009 | 8:41 pm

Sex and the City Sequel Definitely On

"Are we going to really get away with this?" "Hold on, I'm checking for mobs bearing stilettos."

Doing another Sex and the City movie is universally acknowledged to be a bad idea for everyone except the producers who will get rich off of it. The cast will be even further entrenched in the tired roles from which everyone already can't mentally separate them, the audiences will inevitably grow tired of characters they spent many years loving, and the fashion industry simply can't survive another disaster trend like the gladiator sandal. But according to Us Weekly (and apologies if we are late on this), the movie is officially on:

Sarah Jessica Parker, 43, Kim Cattrall, 52, Cynthia Nixon, 42, and Kristin Davis, 43, have agreed to appear in the sequel to Sex and the City: The Movie. "Not all the contracts are signed, but everyone is on board," a source tells Us. "It just happened."

(We can only hope that "everyone" includes Britney Spears.) It's not lost on us that Us Weekly, which is constitutionally obligated to love everything involving cocktails and cleavage, unsubtly inserted the ages of each cast member into their nutgraph. Even they are skeptical! Come on, SJP, please don't do this to us. It was bad enough when you made first Samantha, and then Charlotte, get fat this time around. Everybody knows that when a story already has two happy endings, the third one is always a sad one. Like, a primary character dies kind of sad. And we've kind of grown attached to Magda, okay?

Sex and the City Stars Commit to Sequel! [Us]

Read more posts by Chris Rovzar

Filed Under: cynthia nixon, kim cattrall, kristin davis, movies, sarah jessica parker, sex and the city, sexandthecitymania!

Source: Daily Intel | 22 Jan 2009 | 8:28 pm

TOP CHEF RECAP: More Like Restaurant BORES (I’ll Be Here All Week)

-- What the hell was that voyeuristic hidden-camera shot of Hosea and Leah kissing through a staircase? Was that scene directed by Gus Van Sant? -- Also, Leah was on frickin' Quaaludes this entire episode. First she described her Quickfire dish like a stoner explaining a Bela Fleck solo, then again when her first choice for her team was "Hoooooosssseaaaa......." she sounded like she was trying to feel the smells of the Top Chef kitchen. -- Also, why do people still not want Stefan on their team? Because he says several slightly-belligerent sound bytes per episode before his team ends up always winning? He single-handedly saved everyone's asses this week, especially Leah's, and still everyone treats him like he's worthless. Everyone ostracizing him for being a d*ck is ironically waaaaay more d*ckish than anything he's done on the show (besides maybe that one shot of him leaning back in his chair with the cigarette last week that they kept showing). -- Fabio was on a roll with the zingers: "I grab everything in the store I can...This is the feeling my wife have all the time! 'Cause them women be shoppinnnnnn!!!!!" "We can serve monkey ass in an empty clam shell and still win cause I'm running the front." [This sounded like a joke until Leah actually did serve monkey ass and the team ended up winning because Fabio was manning the front] [To a table of two ladies in the restaurant]: "Can I light you candle? And by that, I mean-a ya VAGGGGGGGGGGGGGG." After the jump, more Restaurant Wars, a predictable elimination, and a classic domestic abuse threat at the Judge's Table: -- Radhika seemed super depressed all episode, like she was holding in a traumatic secret or something. I was half-expecting her to blurt out "TOBY YOUNG TOUCHED ME IN THE COOLER!!!" at the Judge's Table, but I guess Bravo edited that part out. Solid decision. -- Carla could have easily gone home, but was likely saved because she took over Ariane's role as Bravo Company Line Tower: "We hopped in the Sequoias and decided to split up, they went to Whole Foods, we went to Restaurant Depot. Also Dr. Pepper is delicious. [AUDIO OF HER SIPPING DR. PEPPER] Ahhhhh... This definitely has calories in it. Wait, it's DIET?? No way! There is nothing Diet about it!" -- Carla was also frickin' insaaaaane at the Judge's Table. "Sendin' out the love?" Screaming "I KNOWWW!!!" affirmatively after Tom mentioned the diners having a good time... I think the judges might have been afraid to vote her off last night thinking she'd explode in a ball of denial-laced enthusiasm and the explosion would consume them all. Next week at Judges' Table, they'll all be wearing enthusiasm-retardant Hazmat suits and talking to Carla through a foot-thick lead door. -- Nonetheless, the next two episodes are a formality to see if Carla gets eliminated then Leah, or the other way around. -- As for the Restaurant concepts and the episode itself, I don't really have anything to add or make fun of. Probably the most pedestrian episode of the season so far. -- Is anyone else bothered by Jeff opening more and more buttons on his shirt every week? If he makes it to the finale, we're gonna be faced with this: -- Jeff also delivered a nice nonsensical piece of restaurant advice: "It's all about knowing your clientele. I can sell anything. I am perfect." So... knowing your clientele isn't really that important if you're perfect and cook perfect food? Give this guy a book deal. -- Weirdest quote of the night: When a fed-up Guest Judge Stephen Starr exclaimed, "Ahhhhh, I just wanted to SHAKE HER!" Well said, Domesticabusey McGee. Next week's guest judge? Billy Dee Williams. POWER RANKINGS 1) Stefan (If he doesn't win, the show is wrong. Not saying it's definite, but he's gonna reaaaally need to screw up in the finale to lose. I don't see the Judges holding his d*ckitude against him) 2) Jamie 3) Jeff (still waiting for his hilarious f*ckup) 4) Hosea (chances he's still with his girlfriend today? Why wasn't this the Bravo text-poll question?) 5) Fabio (he's always done just enough to not be the absolute worst week in and week out. He's the Atlanta Thrashers of Top Chef.) No Chance: Carla, Leah. No way Bravo pulls a B.S. Lisa repeat and somehow crashing the Finals. -- And finally....Spike returns next week!!! We all know what that means....... Thoughts on Restaurant Wars, Top Chef fans? Or thoughts about Lost? Or just about the concept of Recaps in general? Leave it all in the comments.
Source: Best Week Ever | 22 Jan 2009 | 8:20 pm

Brittany Snow Can Act!

Every so often, we see a film at Sundance that shows us actors we had previously dismissed in a wondrous new light — like when 2007’s Smiley Face made us completely reconsider our opinion of Anna Faris. One of the main contenders for this year’s where-the-hell-did-that-performance-come-from? award is Brittany Snow — yes, the chick from Prom Night — who pretty much takes over Lee Toland Krieger’s twisted family drama The Vicious Kind, and never looks back.

The film is about a young man (Alex Frost) bringing his girlfriend (guess who) back home for Thanksgiving, and the chaos that erupts when his wiseass older brother (Adam Scott), reeling from a breakup of his own, becomes fascinated with her. As the raven-haired object of desire, Snow has to convey an impossible variety of impressions: Is she the conniving and adulterous vixen the older brother claims she is (and secretly wants her to be)? Or the angelic beauty the younger brother thinks he knows? And what does her character even think of all this attention? And yet, for all that, it’s a relatively understated performance: Snow manages to display all this range without ever seeming showy — we can see how one ordinary person can give off completely different vibes to different people. And we can’t take our eyes off her. Good job, Brittany Snow. Can you please stop making crap horror flicks now?

Read more posts by Bilge Ebiri

Filed Under: best of the fest, brittany snow, movies, sundance, the vicious kind

Source: Vulture | 22 Jan 2009 | 8:15 pm

60 Minutes Is Doing a Story on Anna Wintour

Rumor has it 60 Minutes is doing a story on Anna Wintour. A 60 Minutes spokesman told us he was unable to comment on stories in the works. But Cut spies have spotted 60 Minutes cameras following Wintour at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund awards dinner in November, and at the panel discussion she partook in last month with David Remnick and Graydon Carter. So it's been in the works for at least two months. A-Dubs allowed R.J. Cutler's documentary film crew to follow her and her Vogue team for nine months for The September Issue, so who knows how long we'll have to wait for the 60 Minutes piece to come out.

While Gawker speculates Wintour will "emerge puffed up," we hear they're not giving her any special treatment. Just because The September Issue was admiring, doesn't mean the 60 Minutes piece will be. That said, we hear Morley Safer is doing the story, and he's pretty genial with his interview subjects (you can't expect them to sic Mike Wallace on her). At any rate, our fascination with Anna is unquenchable. Whether she comes off as a saint or a she-devil, any footage would excite us. Watching her sit on a couch and drink tea would keep us on the edge of our seats. Not even drinking tea — just sitting there. Like Andy Warhol's Empire State Building, but replace the Empire State Building with Anna. That's all we need.

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: 60 minutes, anna wintour, rj cutler, the september issue, vogue, wintour wonderland

Source: The Cut | 22 Jan 2009 | 8:08 pm

'Inkheart,' 'Underworld' open wide

Front Page: Oscar nominees 'Nixon,' 'Slumdog' expand -- Brit actor Michael Sheen stars in two films that will grace the marquee this weekend, although they couldn't be more different: Sony's fantasy-actioner "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" and Universal's best picture nominee "Frost/Nixon."

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 22 Jan 2009 | 8:04 pm

CAPTION THIS: Benjamin Unbuttoned

Brad Pitt gives the ladies a little taste at 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' photocall in Paris, France. Forever changing the poem to: I see London, I see France, Holy sh*t, I think I just saw Brad Pitt's d**k. Close-up ahead: You're welkies. Feel free to GIF it up!
Source: Best Week Ever | 22 Jan 2009 | 8:00 pm

WATCH: Viola Davis Is Thrilled

Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 22 Jan 2009 | 7:47 pm

Will Wright

Will Wright, creator of a life simulation game called Spore, at the Electronic Arts office in Emeryville, California, in 2008. The Spore computer game that lets people play God by designing life forms...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 22 Jan 2009 | 7:43 pm

Fall Is the Season of the Leather Daddy

Skin is officially in for fall. Don't worry, boys, you don't have to bare it all. The runways were practically lined in hides. Leather, both real and of the man-made variety, came down the catwalk in droves. Neil Barrett and Prada both showed leather (and perhaps pleather, PETA people) tops. Gianfranco Ferré went for some classic rough-and-tumble pants. Alexander McQueen opted for something different, of course, with a brown butcher apron. And who could forget Gucci's all-leather jumpsuit? So leather daddies, save up: Come next season you've got a lot of shopping to do.

Read more posts by Sharon Clott

Filed Under: alexander mcqueen, belstaff, bottega veneta, burberry, costume national, designers, dsquared2, emporio armani, etro, fall 2009, gianfranco ferre, john richmond, john varvatos, leather, milan, moschino, neil barrett, prada, roberto cavalli, roberto rimondi, salvatore ferragamo, slideshow, three's a trend, tommaso aquilano, trends, versace, vivienne westwood

Source: The Cut | 22 Jan 2009 | 7:35 pm

Gran Torino: Through The Eyes of An Actual Asian

Best Week Ever's Special Asian Correspondent Khang Huynh was one of the millions of people to see Clint Eastwood's opus Gran Torino. And now? He's saying what you're thinking. So BestWeekEver.tv and Khang would like to present: Gran Torino: Through The Eyes of An Actual Asian A Story in GIFs By Khang Huynh Asians are moving in next door!

Get off my lawn you damn kids! Who are asian!

We are azn rice boi honda civic crew 4 lyfe, yo! Don't mess with us old man, or we cook you ass in wok!

You gotta ask yourself, "Do ya feel lucky?" Huh? Well do ya, gook?

We will cry asian-style stir fry now.

THE END

Special Commentary from the director: *ahem* Bravo. Khang goes on to say:

Well, you see, what I was going for here was an authentic portrayal of an Asian culture. I think I captured it quite nicely *ahem* As you can see the eyes are perfectly squinted, and um the front teeth protrude in a way that presents mathematical know-how and a genetic proclivity towards small penises. Because as Freud say, "CHINAMAN HAVE SMALL WANG." That would be uh, Szechuan Freud, if I'm not mistaken with my analysts here, the Sino-based cousin of Sigmund Freud. Yeah, so what? I was hopped up on caffeine. (I love this last gif. I should buy pair of non-prescription glasses so I can look like a Woody Allen, or a douchebag, or both!) Also, please don't hunt me down and shut me up, Asian Anti-Defamation League!

Slow one-fingered clapping for this entire epicness. No need to thank us or him for saving you 10 dollars. Khang is an out-of-school engineering student from Canada -- check out his hilarious blog OS Khang!
Source: Best Week Ever | 22 Jan 2009 | 7:21 pm

Women Who Smoke Are More Likely to Diet, Binge

A few years ago, researchers discovered that 75 percent of women smokers wouldn't quit if it meant gaining more than five pounds. Researchers recently discovered women who smoke are more dissatisfied with their bodies than women who don't, and are more likely to diet and binge. Smoking can also cause wrinkles, yellow teeth, and hair thinning (not to mention cancer), but smokers ironically are very interested in maintaining non-weight-related aspects of their appearance. [Daily Beauty]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: body issues

Source: The Cut | 22 Jan 2009 | 6:50 pm

George Clooney is set for 'ER' swansong

Heart-throb George Clooney, seen here in 2008, is set to reprise his roll as Dr. Doug Ross in the final season of long-running television medical drama "ER," reports said Thursday.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 22 Jan 2009 | 6:26 pm

Nepal bans Bollywood movie over Buddha birth claim

Poster for the movie "Chandni Chowk to China." Nepal has banned the Bollywood movie following protests over a scene suggesting the Buddha was born in India, officials said Thursday.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 22 Jan 2009 | 6:20 pm

LOST RECAP: Tell Me Lies, Tell Me Sweet Little Lies…Then Blow Everything, HURLEY

This is a recap of the Lost Season 5 premiere, Episode 84 entitled "Because You Left" and episode 85 "The Lie," originally airing January 21, 2009. If you continue to read on and you haven't seen the episode, then you die tomorrow, BWE is not liable. TIME WARPING, OR, AS THEY MIGHT SING IN THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, "THAT ISLAND SURE IS TRAVELING THROUGH TIME A LOT" We learned in the Dharma-flashback cold open that a section of the island consists of pure energy, which, when harnessed by the frozen donkey wheel, allows the island and/or its inhabitants to travel through time. This prompted the Dharma worker to ask, in a Hurley-esque representation of the viewers' questions, "So we can go back and kill Hitler?" to which Dr. Chang shot back, "Please...there are rules. Rule #1 - You can't go back and kill Hitler. Everyone was always like 'oh, let's go kill Hitler' and we were never getting any work done, so we banned that one right off the bat." In the aftermath of Ben's island-moving, the remaining islanders (Locke, Sawyer, Juliet, Farraday, Miles, Charlotte, and "Next Hit Character" Neil, plus extras) are dealing with the island fluctuating through different time periods of its existence, with the manmade features on the island and its array of inhabitants randomly changing after frequent fade-to-white Finalcut transitions occur. Locke then briefly encounters unaging Alpert, who tells him that the only way he can stop the island's movement is to "die" and bring the Oceanic Six back to the island. He then gives Locke a compass and, when Locke asks what it does, he replies "It points north." So even Alpert is a smartass now? We already have Ben, Sawyer, and Hurley -- the show's pushing a 40% characters-are-smartasses quotient, the highest for a non-Aaron-Sorkin show in decades. KATE, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST...REALLY LONG AGO Someone knows that Aaron isn't Kate's baby and hired two CBS-looking dudes (one of whom kept looking directly into the camera) to grab a DNA sample from her. First simple mystery of Season 5: Who's behind this? Could it be Claire's mother, who stroked Aaron at Christian Shephard's funeral and cryptically declared "what a beautiful baby"? Could it be Charles Widmore, who wants to explore the depths of the Oceanic Six's lie and possesses the means to hire these agents and is also generally evil? Could it even be Sun, who seemed unfazed by Kate's news and perhaps wishes to use Kate as a stepping stone to exact revenge on Ben? As usual, I'll assume Rose is behind everything until the show proves otherwise. Speaking of the Kate/Sun convo... Sun receives our Passive Aggressive Player of the Week Award after slipping in "Kate, if it weren't for your tough choices, we might all be dead, instead of just my husband," followed by a not-so-loving, "So how's Jack?" I imagine a deleted scene of Kate winging a wine glass at Sun will appear on ABC.com at some point today. SPECIAL GHOSTS. GUESTS. The episode concluded with a surprise re-emergence of Ms. Hawking, the woman who once refused to sell Desmond a wedding ring because it wasn't his destiny, who is now a nun with a science lab and a pendulum in the basement of her building. She's apparently one of Ben's many agents (/ mistresses?? Maybe???), but could Ms. Hawking also be Farraday's mother in Oxford whom Desmond is supposed to find? She is pretty sciencey... The premiere also contained a distinct lack of ghost appearances (with one notable exception), with no sightings of Claire, Jack's Dad, Charlie, Jin, or Michael. I predicted yesterday that Miles' ghost-talking ability would prove useful this season in unraveling the Claire mystery, but we certainly didn't see any of it last night, besides Miles finding a dead boar (My friend texted me, "if all Miles can do is talk to dead boars, they should call him 'Dr. Deadlittle.'" I agree with this and have already sent a letter to Sawyer explaining why he must use this nickname in future episodes. Not to Josh Holloway, I sent it to the character Sawyer). The notable ghost exception, of course, was the SNL-like self-deprecating reappearance of Michelle Rodriguez, playing a Jacob manifestation of Ana Lucia, who delivered the knowingest meta-line in Lost history: "Whatever you do, stay away from the cops. DO NOT get arrested."
BEST MOMENT OF THE NIGHT Hands down, Hurley whipping the Hot Pocket at Ben (cue Jim Gaffigan - "Projectile Weaponnnnnn Pockeeeeeeets....") Ben was as schemey as ever last night, and despite Hurley's flashback mention that sometime in the future he 'wouldn't be there' for Sayid, Hurley ultimately took Sayid's advice and did the opposite of what Ben said (Ben should've said, "Don't come back to the island with me.") This turn of events was one of the episode's strongest character moments, and given Ben's patronizing conversation with his butcher friend about manipulating Jack, it seems that Hurley may not have been entirely unjustified. Ben also clearly stole this move from No Country For Old Men, meaning his hotel scene had to have taken place later than November of 2007: Someone in our room correctly shouted out, more like, "No Country For Old Ben!" (P.S. -- we are geniuses.) Second best moment of the night? Hurley's attempt to explain all of Lost to his mother, including admitting even he didn't understand the whole button-pushing thing. My formula continues to hold true: More Hurley = Everything Is Awesomer. NEW CHARACTERRRRRNEVERMIND Another friend of mine predicted "Frogurt" Neil's death from the moment he walked on screen, pointing out that the Lost producers deliberately place expendable side-characters in red shirts as an homage to Star Trek, the flagship show of expendable characters. Also, could the flaming ARROWS have something to do with the baby AARON? Alright, I'll stop. R.I.P. Neil - we hardly knew ye. Except from this: AND FINALLY "... Then God help us all." Really? The most creative, unique, and puzzling show on network tv possibly ever, and they conclude their season opener with a borrowed line from every Jerry Bruckheimer movie trailer ever made? Ahhhhh, whatever, Lost, I can't stay mad at youuuuuu. Glad to have you back. Your turn, folks -- Episode thoughts, analysis, theories, predictions, and token exclamations about Sawyer's shirtlessness in the comments, if you please.
Source: Best Week Ever | 22 Jan 2009 | 6:15 pm

Velvet Dandies Take Over Milan’s Runways

Did you get lost in all that black at Milan? Then perhaps you missed the comeback of a material best suited for the Chuck Basses of our lives: velvet, and its even softer cousin, velour. Salvatore Ferragamo and Dolce & Gabbana showed fuzzy jackets and blazers in brighter-than-bright colors. Burberry and Gucci did just the opposite, showcasing head-to-toe velvet in natural hues. And Giorgio Armani went for a velvet revolution: Both his collections had velour on just about everything, from green pants to gray vests to tracksuits. For more velvet and velour looks, click ahead for the slideshow.

Read more posts by Sharon Clott

Filed Under: alessandro dellacqua, belstaff, bottega veneta, burberry prorsum, d&g, designers, dg, Dolce & Gabbana, emporio armani, fall 2009, gianfranco ferre, giorgio armani, gucci, Milan, roberto cavalli, salvatore ferragamo, slideshow, three's a trend..., trends

Source: The Cut | 22 Jan 2009 | 6:05 pm

ILTW: Max Payne in 60 Seconds

Max Payne, a movie title inspired by Homer Simpson's alter ego Max Power, is now out on DVD. Some of you have already quit your jobs and run out to the video store; others still need convincing. For those of you on the fence, we present I Like to Watch: Max Payne in 60 Seconds. It was the one-two punch of Mark Wahlberg and the giant flying eagle thing that finally put me over.

Source: Best Week Ever | 22 Jan 2009 | 5:56 pm

20 of the Hottest Album Covers From the 1980s

From Poison to Prince to Madonna, the 1980s were hot (in a cheesy kind of way)

Source: FOXNews.com | 22 Jan 2009 | 5:52 pm

Farrell, Knightley latch onto 'London'

Front Page: William Monahan to direct crime drama -- Keira Knightley and Colin Farrell are set to star in "London Boulevard," a crime drama that marks the directing debut of "The Departed" scribe William Monahan. Monahan adapted the Ken Bruen novel.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 22 Jan 2009 | 5:44 pm

PHOTOS: Stars Who Never Won An Oscar

Depp, Winslet among Hollywood stars that have never received coveted Oscar.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 22 Jan 2009 | 5:38 pm

Allen still at center of SAG debate

Front Page: Hollywood board endorses national exec -- With the Screen Actors Guild heading into its awards show Sunday, the guild's top leaders seem more in disarray than ever.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 22 Jan 2009 | 5:29 pm

Keith Urban Names New Album

Keith Urban has christened his new album "Defying Gravity" and, as previously reported, will release it March 31 on Capitol Nashville.

Source: Billboard.com | 22 Jan 2009 | 5:29 pm

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes consider London move

Actor thinks they'd love it here despite the weather

Tom Cruise would support Katie Holmes if she decided to pursue her acting career in London.

The star was impressed with his wife's performance in Broadway play All My Sons in New York.

And he'd consider relocating so she could tread the boards in the West End.

‘It would be a fantastic move,’ Tom said at the premiere of Valkyrie last night.

‘Katie was absolutely brilliant on Broadway and to work in the West End would be a joy.

'It is something to consider for both of us.’

Tom, 46, who lived in Notting Hill for two years with ex Nicole Kidman, is a big fan of the UK.

‘I think we’d love it here,’ he tells the Daily Mirror. ‘Even if it is so, so cold!’

Source
Source: Lepaparazzi - Celebrity News and Gossip Blog | 22 Jan 2009 | 5:15 pm

Curious Oscars

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' has been nominated for 13 Oscars.

The movie is up for an incredible haul of accolades at the 81st Academy Awards, including Best Director for David Fincher, Best Actor for lead star Brad Pitt and the coveted Best Picture prize.

The movie will go up against 'Frost/Nixon', 'Milk', 'The Reader' and 'Slumdog Millionaire' for Best Picture.

Rags-to-riches tale 'Slumdog Millionaire' received the second most nominations - which were announced at a ceremony in Beverly Hills today (22.01.09) - receiving nods in 10 different categories, including Best Director for British filmmaker Danny Boyle.

Heath Ledger - who died of an accidental prescription overdose last January - is posthumously up for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as The Joker in 'The Dark Knight'. Surprisingly, the critically-acclaimed Batman movie is not up for any of the other main accolades.

Double Golden Globe winner Kate Winslet will be hoping to take home her first Academy Award after being nominated for Best Actress for her performance in 'The Reader'.

She will go up against 'Rachel Getting Married' star Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep - who has been recognised for 'Doubt' - Melissa Leo in 'Frozen River', and Angelina Jolie, who received a nod for her performance in 'Changeling'.

Source
Source: Lepaparazzi - Celebrity News and Gossip Blog | 22 Jan 2009 | 5:08 pm

Pink's Hart housemate

Pink estranged husband has moved in with her.

The 'So What' singer - who announced her separation from Carey Hart last February, after two years of marriage - reportedly wants to give her marriage to the professional motocross racer another chance, and has agreed to let him live at her Malibu home.

They have since been seen out jogging together in Los Angeles
A source told Us Weekly magazine: "Pink is head over heels for Carey and wants to try it again, but she is proceeding cautiously. They just took a break on the marriage because they couldn't make it work never seeing each other. She never gave up hope that it would work."

Rumours the pair had reunited were first sparked when Pink spent New Year's Eve (31.12.08) with Carey at his Las Vegas nightclub Wasted Space.

They have since been seen out jogging together in Los Angeles.

The 29-year-old pop star recently admitted she and Carey have struggled to adapt to their new relationship as friends.

She said: "It's up and down. You have strong moments and you have weak moments. But it's not just been devastating - it's been freedom, too."

Source
Source: Lepaparazzi - Celebrity News and Gossip Blog | 22 Jan 2009 | 5:07 pm

Halle Berry's escalator terror

Halle Berry began "frantically screaming" when her dress got caught in an escalator on Tuesday (20.01.09).

The brunette beauty was on her way to the Western Ball to celebrate US President Barack Obama's inauguration when her flowing frock got stuck, causing widespread "panic".

A source said: "Halle was on her way to the ball, but she was looking lost and confused in the crowd of people. She stepped onto the escalator and the long train of her dress got caught, causing a scene of panic.

"She began frantically screaming and security had to hit the emergency brake."

A shaken Halle eventually managed to pull her gown free, and continued on her way to the party.

Halle was not the only celebrity to cause an upsetting scene in Washington D.C. on Tuesday.

Singer Usher and his wife Tameka Foster left a young fan distraught when their bodyguard refused to allow her to get an autograph.

A source told the New York Post newspaper: "The shopping mall was practically empty, and a young girl went up and asked Usher for a photo. His bodyguard very meanly refused, and Tameka laughed in the girl's face. After they left, the little girl was crying."Usher representative said: "Usher took as many photos as possible while in Washington. He was there to witness a great moment in history. It's absurd that people would try to ruin it."

Source
Source: Lepaparazzi - Celebrity News and Gossip Blog | 22 Jan 2009 | 5:05 pm

Jennifer Aniston's lavish party

Jennifer Aniston is planning a star-studded 40th birthday party.
The former 'Friends' actress, who reaches the landmark age on February 11, wants to celebrate early with a lavish bash at her new Beverly Hills home on February 7.

The guest list will include Jennifer's boyfriend John Mayer, her close pal Courteney Cox and her husband David Arquette and singer Sheryl Crow.

It is believed the actress is planning the early festivities because John wants to take her away for a romantic break for her actual birthday.

The pair will leave for their intimate getaway - which will also take in Valentine's Day (14.01.09) - straight after the party.

Rumours are rife that John is set to propose on Jennifer's big day, and has splashed out on a custom-made engagement ring for her.

Jennifer recently revealed she was looking forward to the milestone and isn't scared of getting older.

She said: "Everyone has been asking me if I worry about being nearly 40, but no, not really. These days I'm a lot more serene and I'm ready to embrace a new decade."It almost feels like a badge of honour in a weird way."

Source
Source: Lepaparazzi - Celebrity News and Gossip Blog | 22 Jan 2009 | 5:03 pm

The 7 Best Shows You're Not Watching

Cult shows and soon-to-be new favorites return to small screen this season.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 22 Jan 2009 | 4:55 pm

Traveling man at heart of Louis Vuitton show (AP)

AP - Travel was at the heart of French luggage-maker Louis Vuitton's menswear collection Thursday, which layered vacation-friendly fabrics, cutting them slim for an almost aerodynamic silhouette.

Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 22 Jan 2009 | 4:50 pm

Isis Rides The 'Wave' On New Album

Doom rock outfit Isis will return May 5 with its new Ipecac album, "Wavering Radiant." The set will be released first on vinyl on April 21.

Source: Billboard.com | 22 Jan 2009 | 4:07 pm

PHOTOS: 2009 Oscar Nominations

'Benjamin Button' leads nominations with 13 including best picture.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 22 Jan 2009 | 4:05 pm

Lady GaGa Leads Hot 100 Amid Static Top 5

Amid a static top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, Lady GaGa's "Just Dance" featuring Colby O'Donis is No. 1 for a third week after selling 192,000 downloads in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Source: Billboard.com | 22 Jan 2009 | 3:49 pm

Disney announces restructuring

Front Page: ABC programming unit merges with production -- Stephen McPherson has expanded his domain at Disney.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 22 Jan 2009 | 3:34 pm

WATCH: Paris Hilton Hit by the Razzies

Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 22 Jan 2009 | 3:29 pm

Kate Winslet's Best Actress Nod for 'The Reader' a Triumph

Winslet's tour de force performance nabs her a Best Actress nod

Source: FOXNews.com | 22 Jan 2009 | 3:17 pm

Oscar's fickle attention

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 22 Jan 2009 | 2:49 pm

'Queen of Soul': It's the 'age of Barack'

Legendary singer/songwriter Aretha Franklin sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee" at the inauguration Tuesday.
Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 22 Jan 2009 | 2:27 pm

'Slumdog, 'WALL-E' Lead Oscar Music Nominees

"Slumdog Millionaire" and "Wall-E" are atop the field of music-related Oscar nominees, with both films nominated for best original score. The "Slumdog" score was penned by A.R. Rahman, while Thomas Newman wrote the score for "WALL-E."

Source: Billboard.com | 22 Jan 2009 | 2:05 pm

Specialty pics pounce on Oscar buzz

Front Page: Films hope nominations will boost box office -- With Oscar nominations out, the race now moves to the multiplex as a crowded pack of specialty films try to use best picture nominations to fill theater seats.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 22 Jan 2009 | 2:00 pm

Marisa Miller's Bikini Breakdown

Supermodel Marisa Miller knows a thing or two about wardrobe malfunctions after suffering the dreaded bikini slip on a shoot earlier this week

Source: FOXNews.com | 22 Jan 2009 | 1:15 pm

'Knight' misses bid for best picture

Front Page: Eastwood, Batman lead omissions -- As in any year, the omissions were almost as interesting as the contenders, and this year there's a stellar list of no-shows, including Christopher Nolan, Clint Eastwood, Bruce Springsteen, Miley Cyrus -- and Batman himself.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 22 Jan 2009 | 1:00 pm

Prosecution Rests Case In Phil Spector Retrial

Prosecutors rested their case today (Jan. 22) in the murder retrial of legendary music producer Phil Spector.

Source: Billboard.com | 22 Jan 2009 | 12:37 pm

Hugo Boss challenges crisis aesthetic (AP)

AP - The Paris menswear collections kicked off Thursday with a bold, graphic display by Hugo, Hugo Boss that challenged the crisis-driven back-to-the-basics aesthetic that largely dominated the recent menswear shows in Milan.
Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 22 Jan 2009 | 12:36 pm

PHOTOS: H'Wood Bad Hair Days

Click here to see who sported the windblown look at the Golden Globes.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 22 Jan 2009 | 12:13 pm

The Unlikely Stars of 'Slumdog Millionaire'

"Slumdog Millionaire" seen as the underdog success story of the awards season.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 22 Jan 2009 | 11:26 am