AP - I've spent an awful lot of time this winter battling deadly alien armies on bleak, ravaged planets. Last week I was on Helghan, fighting laser-eyed supersoldiers in "Killzone 2." Next week, I'm shipping out to Harvest to re-engage the Covenant in "Halo Wars."
Reuters - Britney Spears kicked off her first tour in five years on Tuesday, promoting her latest hit album "Circus" before an adoring hometown audience with jugglers, acrobats, rings of flame and lip syncing.
Reuters - Britney Spears kicked off her first tour in five years on Tuesday, promoting her latest hit album "Circus" before an adoring hometown audience with jugglers, acrobats, rings of flame and lip syncing.
AP - "Raise the Red Lantern" director Zhang Yimou plans to make a movie to mark the 60th anniversary of communist China, cementing his shift from a dissident to a government-favored artist.
A new online psychic and holistic website invites those with relationship and "life questions" to speak with an advisor. Satori Nation was created to enlighten, balance Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 4 Mar 2009 | 12:15 pm
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U2 just released its first album since 2004 this week, but the Irish rock band is already planning a quickie follow-up for next year. Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 4 Mar 2009 | 12:07 pm
Partners to Develop Show, Already a Hit on Spain's Antena 3 Network, For U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand Mobile SMS and Online Social Networks to Join Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 4 Mar 2009 | 12:00 pm
The Reel Stuff Film Festival will honor the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 flight COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Ohio will celebrate its... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 4 Mar 2009 | 12:00 pm
E! Online - With two weeks of eliminations behind them, would this final group of American Idol Top 12 aspirants finally take the judges' advice into consideration?
Britney Spears is back and, the good news is, she's stronger than yesterday.
The Circus Starring Britney Spears kicked off tonight at New Orleans Arena, where her adoring hometown...
With two weeks of eliminations behind them, would this final group of American Idol Top 12 aspirants finally take the judges' advice into consideration?
Apparently not.
But...
The Oscar winner was forced to cancel four Florida performances of his one-man show, Weapons of...
Front Page: Academy voters get mobile Showtime fare -- After leading the charge to put Emmy screeners online, Showtime will show off its wares to TV Academy voters this year on both the iPhone and the iPodTouch.
Front Page: Filmmaker teams with Steve Lee Jones on film -- David Permut is getting into gear for a biopic of maverick auto exec John Z. DeLorean, with Steve Lee Jones also producing through his Bee Holder Prods.
Front Page: Actors to star in adaptation of Coehlo novel -- Alice Braga, Mickey Rourke and Vincent Cassel are set to star in "11 Minutes," an adaptation of the steamy Paulo Coehlo novel that will be directed by Hany Abu-Assad.
Front Page: Kidvidder's first film will be 'Thomas' adaptation -- Hit Entertainment, the kidvid mainstay known for "Thomas the Tank Engine," "Barney and Friends" and "Bob the Builder," has launched a movie division.
Front Page: Duo to bring Heller novel to bigscreen -- Miramax Films and producer Scott Rudin have acquired screen rights to "The Believers," the Zoe Heller novel that was released this week by Harper.
Front Page: Kevin Smith to direct film for Warner Bros. -- Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan will star in Warner Bros.' detective comedy "A Couple of Cops," with Kevin Smith directing his first major studio pic.
(AP)
AP - "The Believers" (HarperCollins, 335 pages, $25.95), By Zoe Heller: The beauty of this novel is in the details.
Why is the easily unhinged Tatiana Del Toro an ideal wild-card candidate for American Idol? Why is Rosie O'Donnell back from the dead of Rosie Live? And, setting aside a suspicious tweet, why...
"You've got to be joking!"
This is what Chris Harrison just told me his response was when he found out that The Bachelor of the hour, Jason—whom Chris calls "the...
Belinda Carlisle is looking darn good.
At 50 years old, the former Go-Go's frontwoman is one hot mama. Now she's getting in even better shape, because she's been...
When Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens hit up the Watchmen premiere last night, he was kind enough to cover up his coif with a hat and let his girlfriend be the prettier partner for the...
Dr. Phil may not make house calls, but he apparently is willing to receive them.
E! News caught America's favorite single mother of 14, Octomom Nadya Suleman, leaving the good TV...
This Terminator Salvation trailer forced us to reconsider a couple things.
First, McG might not be that bad a choice for this. When we heard the Charlie's Angels director was taking...
Count Matt Damon among the celebs whose worldview doesn't start and end in Hollywood.
On Tuesday, the Bourne Ultimatum star took time off from filming to visit with Zimbabwean...
CONGRATULATIONS, IT'S A DOG: Oprah Winfrey has adopted a adorable cocker spaniel puppy. Not expected to be given away on her next Favorite Things episode? Dog crap. (Us Magazine)
REALITY DRAMA: ABC's The Bachelor proposed to a woman on camera, and then proceeded to dump her six weeks later on camera. You can find out more about it on my upcoming special called "Things That All The Female Contestants On The Bachelor of Any Reality Show Probably Deserve." (People Magazine)
HEROIN BLEAK: If any of you run into the corpse of Kurt Cobain wearing thigh high leather boots and shopping with Michael Jackson, relax: It's child actress Taylor Momsen and her Momsen. (ONTD)
SNOW LAUGHING MATTER: The NY Times sent some reporters out into NYC yesterday to capture people frolicking and making merriment in the snow banks. Everyone seemed to be having fun, even the snow shoveler who can't remember how many kids he has. (NY Times)
THINGS I WISH I OWNED PART 2: Chihuahua Scuba Diver. (Buzzfeed)
THING I AM GLAD I HAVE NEVER SEEN IN REAL LIFE: Creepy tree. (Buzzfeed)
FINALLY: A bit last minute, but I'm appearing in a "round table discussion" of sorts tonight at the PIT Theater with The Daily Show's John Oliver. (Scott Bateman Animation Show)
Front Page: Jordan Mechner adapting comic book -- Megan Fox is attached to star in and produce "Fathom," an adaptation of the Michael Turner-created comicbook, for Fox Atomic.
A lot of people expect that our impending economic doom will be accompanied by an extreme lapse in social mores; that violence, mayhem, and crime will take over as the situation grows increasingly desperate. In New York, burglaries are already up. Finance guys and women living in rural Pennsylvania alike are buying shotguns with which they expect they will have to fend off clamoring hordes. We'll turn on each other, they say. Western civilization as we know it could disappear!
We're not so sure.
It's true that here in America many people aren't always nice, and give the impression they don't care about one another. This seems especially true at the Department of Motor Vehicles, certain branches of Au Bon Pain, and the lobby of a certain office building at Varick and Canal streets, where the man makes you dig for your I.D. every damn time you come into the building, even though he totally knows you just stepped out to get coffee. But at heart, we are a polite society. How do we know? This report of a robbery in Wisconsin:
The man walked into the Petro Mart near Wausau Sunday, asked for some cigarettes and when the cash drawer was open, grabbed a stack of $20s.
The sheriff’s department says the man told the clerk he was sorry he had to take the money.
As the Dow continues to plunge and unemployment continues to rise, let the Wausau robber be an example to us all.
AP - Depicting mental illness on screen is such a difficult undertaking, both for its inherently internal nature and because of the obvious need for sensitivity. When we're talking about a child who's suffering psychologically, the prospect becomes even trickier.
After his appearance on ABC's "Wife Swap," a reality television show in which wives from two different families switch places for two weeks, Stephen Fowler seems to have become the most hated man in America.
The upscale shops in the mall under the Plaza Hotel are demanding lower rent since business is so poor. We could have guessed as much. We stumbled upon the mall for the first time recently whilst wandering, confused, around the Upper East Side and went into the Plaza to look at the pretty ceilings and warm up. No one was in the stores, which include Nokia's luxury cell phone brand Vertu, Parisian bookseller Assouline, and handbag maker Ghurka. And why would they be? There are no markings outside to draw the public in, and who aside from maybe Kimora Lee Simmons is interested in visiting a luxury cell phone boutique these days?
Plaza owner Elad Properties is refusing to let the stores renegotiate their multiyear leases. A source close to the situation said if Elad doesn't give a little within the next 90 days, tenants will start moving out, spurring a domino effect, since no one wants to be next to an empty space. Elad is also having trouble marketing the shops and turning it into a place people actually want to spend time in, since they don't want to build things like restaurants to attract shoppers. We wouldn't mind if it quietly closed down, since it's one of the sorriest, most awkward malls we've ever visited. It feels like a suburban mall at 8 a.m. before the stores open when the speed walkers are there. Minus the speed walkers.
Though High School Musical 3: Senior Year played in movie theaters, next year's HSM4 will air on the Disney Channel, presumably because Zac Efron will not be in it (his character graduated in the last one), and no one wants to see the faces of the comparatively hideous new cast members projected onto a giant screen. [HR]
The Disney Pixar blog has the first shots of the toys from Pixar's forthcoming masterpiece, Up. Like the film's hero, the villain — who we've not seen in any form until now — will also be a cane-wielding elderly guy. This will truly be a battle for the ages. [Disney Pixar Blog/Film]
The British men's style magazine folded after 22 years of remaining pretty cool. Rocky Mountain News reporters are trying to struggle on online, and Hachette continues to streamline.
• Bauer folded Arena, the 22-year-old British men's style magazine. The twelve staff members are in layoff purgatory, as they are meant to be "redeployed" to other creative teams. [WWD]
• Hachette Filipacchi is at it again with those pesky structural changes. Philippe Guelton, the company's chief operating officer, will helm a new group in charge of cross-company operations. No word of layoffs yet, but Noah at Fishbowl predicts centralization's dirty backside to cause a few pink slips. [FishbowlNY/Mediabistro]
Front Page: Bewkes bucks cable resistance to Internet -- The cable biz is starting to feel the heat from viewers who want free online access to top shows -- much to the dismay of cable operators.
Green Day blew out their ceiling with 2004’s American Idiot, and they do not intend to go back to the basement in 2009. As the leaked title track attests, May’s 21st Century Breakdown will be another epic social-critique concept album. In just over five minutes, the trio packs in a slow-burn piano intro, a catchy mid-tempo riff, a catchier up-tempo riff, a “Bohemian Rhapsody”–style mellow outro, and enough vaguely declarative phrases to make Sam’s Town–era Brandon Flowers blush: Billie Joe Armstrong rages forth about a generation of zeros, a lost son born on the Fourth of July, and all kinds of questions resulting in lies. The track apparently leads off Breakdown’s first act, “Heroes and Cons” (“Charlatans and Saints” and “Horseshoes and Handgrenades” follow), and is not the album’s first single: That’d be “Know Your Enemy,” coming officially in April.
Well hello. We missed it, but Ben Bernanke got all hot under the collar when talking about the rescue of AIG at today's Senate Budget Committee hearing in Washington.
"If there is a single episode in this entire 18 months that has made me more angry, I can't think of one other than AIG," he said, adding that the company "made huge numbers of irresponsible bets, took huge losses, there was no regulatory oversight because there was a gap in the system."
It may not sound like it, but this is some righteous indignation coming from the Federal Reserve chairman, who usually displays about as much emotion as the Ben Stein character in Ferris Bueller. And you can tell from the pictures that he has truly been affected by this, mood-wise. On the left he looks calm and placid. That was before the last AIG bailout. But see how on the right his mouth is just a little bit tenser? And his one eyelid is drooped ever so slightly, like it's going to twitch manically, but then it doesn't? Yeah. That's the face Bernanke makes when he is pissed.
This blog hasn't gotten a face lift in a while, but if you'll mosey on over to nymag.com's fashion section, you'll notice we've given it an extreme makeover, which we refer to in Internet speak as a major redesign. New sections include designers, models, beauty, and trends. We've also revamped our runway look finder, which allows you to search the collections for specific items of clothing by designer, color, clothing type, style and even model.
Your favorite designer and model bio pages are still there, but everything's easier to navigate and prettier. We also have sizable collections of party and front-row photos for those days you need a little extra André Leon Talley (candid!) in your life (which for us is every day). You'll also notice our runway slideshows are a little different, no longer appearing as pop-out windows. Our hope is that you find the new section easier to navigate. And, again, prettier. Because this is fashion, dammit, and sometimes that's all that matters.
Attention dot-noses! Remember all that hubbub on the Internets yesterday about Comedy Central playing hardball with the producing team behind The Sarah Silverman Show, and the creators threatening to quit the show forever? Yeah, well, crisis averted — Sarah and the rest of the team were able to convince another member of the Viacom family, Logo, to chip in enough money for the show's third season. Whatever the opposite of "ozay" is, this news is that! [HR]
On Sunday, 1,000 sneakerheads gathered in the Times Square Arts Center to buy, sell, and trade their vast collections of sneakers at the first annual SneakerCon. Graffiti artist Stash told us he owns 200 to 300 pairs; D.J. Clark Kent told us he owns 2,300 but recently gave away 3,000 pairs; All Day said he owns 5,000 pairs, which he keeps in a separate apartment. And you thought you were a shoe whore. Watch the video to see what's hot in the world of sneakers and find out how many thousands of dollars some people are willing to spend on them.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg today renamed a portion of West 53rd Street "U2 Way":
Personally, I was really into 53rd Street back in high school, and it was one of the first streets I ever drove on live, but it's been a long time since I gave a sh*t about it.
After the jump, two more pics of U2's temporary induction into the pantheon of people New York takes credit for even though they're not from New York:
Adam Clayton on the left looks like he's about to be offered his own CBS show:
And in this last pic, I imagine Bloomberg concluding his speech with a really forced, parent-like inclusion of a U2 lyric, like "Congratulations - Today, those streets with no name finally have a name, and that name is 'U2 Way!'"
No word on when Chris Martin will attempt to do the same for 54th Street. Source: Best Week Ever | 3 Mar 2009 | 10:00 pm
Lost in the shuffle of everything else that was going on during the premiere episode of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last night was the main reason that Justin Timberlake appeared on the show (well, besides being total brahs with Fallon, that is). Even though he spent most of his time re-creating his stale impression of Andy Gibb, ostensibly Timberlake was there to plug the new MTV reality show that he's executive producing called The Phone. And by "new," we really mean "the one that's been sitting on the shelf since sometime last summer." Honestly, how terrible does a show have to be for MTV not to air it? From the looks of the clip, there's a strong to very strong possibility that it could be the most boring entry in MTV's sordid history of crappy reality shows.
The premise of the show, which was greenlit last spring and originally scheduled to air in the fall of 2008*, revolves around contestants who receive a spooky call on an anonymous cell phone that just happens to be in their immediate vicinity. The contestants then receive a series of instructions from a poor man's Jigsaw instructing them to complete some sort of The Mole meets Punk'd–type of mission, which we can only assume leads them to some sort of casting call in which they are forced to go on dates with a borderline age-appropriate bi-curious peer and their overbearing parents (it is MTV, after all).
Judging from the audience's reaction to the clip (which you can see below), nearly all of them seemed to believe the show was a comedy, when in fact it's intended to be some sort of adventure drama. And that's not good, considering everyone in the Jimmy Fallon audience last night was under 22. Also, it's worth stating that we liked the concept for this show better when it was scripted and called Push, Nevada. Then again, now that we think about it, we really hated that show, too. Regardless, this one looks worse.
*As far as we can tell (meaning: We combed Google and MTV.com and couldn't find a thing), the show still doesn't have an air date.
Verified Identity Pass founder Steve Brill will step down from his position as CEO of that company in order to focus on "the business challenges facing quality journalism," he told employees yesterday. Brill, an author and the creator of Brill's Content, Court TV, and The American Lawyer, launched the Yale Journalism Initiative in 2006. His current company creates the popular "Clear" passes for registered travelers to speed through airport security. Intel readers may also know him as the father of blogger Emily. Additionally, he was the only professor of journalism editor Chris ever had, and if he could fix us up, the industry should be no problem whatsoever. [Yale Daily News]
MAKEUP
• Makeup artist Pat McGrath on the makeup she did for Prada’s fall 2009 show: “The idea is this woman who lives in the country, but she loves pop music and has all these crazy fabrics around her from throughout the past, and she’s wearing and trying them all on.” Translation: bleached brows and burgundy eye shadow up to the brow bone topped with red and orange glitter. [Allure/Daily Beauty Reporter]
• Nicolas Degennes, Givenchy’s Le Makeup Artistic Director, is planning an exhibition debuting in Paris this April showcasing the work he’s done for Givenchy over the past ten years. [Talking Makeup]
• Lucky magazine editors claim gray eye shadow is the best “investment piece” of makeup a girl can buy since it looks good on everybody. Well, Lucky editors, let’s not forget about our friend’s clear lip gloss and mascara. [Lucky]
FRAGRANCE
• Paris Hilton won the Celebrity of the Year Award from the Fragrance Foundation and will claim her prize at the annual Fifi Awards this May. Golly, we hope our invitation is in the mail. [Now Smell This]
HAIR
• Angelina Jolie wears wigs in her upcoming movie Salt, where she plays an undercover agent. But she still looks like Angelina Jolie. [USA Today via Jezebel]
Today is March 3, 2009, or, in Virgin Speak, 3/3/09... SQUARE ROOT DAY! To celebrate this non-existent holiday, nerds across the world hold Square Root Day parties -- there's even a Facebook page dedicated to Square Root Day fans. We here at Bestweekever.tv are nothing if not suckers for reasons to celebrate anything... so we've put together this handy guide to fulfill all of your SqRD wishes. Here are 9 Ways To Celebrate Square Root Day! And make sure to check back here on 7/8/9 for our list of 789 Ha-larious Jokes.
4. Dye your roots, gurl. Then ask your barber to fashion your hair after this iconic gentleman:
8. Laugh at how phallic the following square diagram of "young root tips" is:
Elongation zone indeed...
7 - 1 Ahead, plus commenter bait!7. Drink an iced cold root beer using this glass:
6. Listen to The Roots using one of these newfangled and non-existant square Compact Discs:
5. Impress your co-workers with this hilarious mousepad:
4. ReadA History of Greek Mathematics: From Aristarchus to Diophantusin 339 minutes. (You will probably have to call in sick for this one but do you want to celebrate or not??)
3. Recite Samuel 3:39: "Today I'm weak, though I'm the anointed king. These men, Zeruiah's sons, are too cruel for me. May the LORD repay this evildoer as his evil deeds deserve." (/Samual L. Jackson voice)
2. Root for a young Jim J. Bullock on an old episode of Hollywood Squares:
1. Cut a beet or radish into a cube. (Note: They actually do this.) Just look at these adorable anime square radishes!!
How do you plan on celebrating Square Root Day? Let us know in the comments. Source: Best Week Ever | 3 Mar 2009 | 9:34 pm
Let's say you're barely one of what President Obama considers America's wealthy, pulling in just over $250,000 a year. Perhaps you were dismayed upon hearing that Obama intends to raise the rates on your tax bracket to finance health-care reform, among other things. So, because you naturally want to hold on to as much money as possible, you begin to concoct an ingenious scheme to reduce your income to just below $250,000 a year. After hours of crunching the numbers — which clients to drop, which days to take off work — you've found a way to stave off those higher taxes. "Ha-ha," you may chortle to yourself, or a nearby loved one. "My superior intellect has served me well once again." This is, apparently, the strategy that some people are actually taking, according to ABC News. But as a flabbergasted Jonathan Chait explains, this just isn't how taxes work.
A tax increase affects the marginal dollar that a person gains. That's [sic] means only every dollar over $250,000 is taxed at a higher rate. Obama is not proposing a tax system whereby somebody who goes from $249,999 to $250,000 suddenly becomes poorer. Nobody has ever enacted a tax hike like that in the history of the United States.
"I'm an advocate for peace. I've been in the peace movement ever since I've been making music." —Snoop Dogg on joining the Nation of Islam [Guardian UK]
"I'm going to call it I Slept With Everyone On Television. I was in the airport in Minneapolis, and I thought, 'Shit. What you have to do is have something that catches the eye of people going from Minneapolis to New York that looks like a good, easy read on a plane.'"—Margot Kidder on writing her memoirs [AV Club]
"I get offered funny, quirky, pretty roles. I'd love to do an action movie. James Bond! Glamour! Daniel Craig! Shit-loads of fun!" —Jennifer Aniston on wanting to be kickass [Elle UK via People]
"Every time a script reads funny, there's always that chance that it could actually be funny, when executed."—Seth Green on reading the script for Sex Drive [MTV]
"It's very unnerving. It used to be that little Chihuahua, from Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and now it's me!"—Isla Fisher on seeing herself on billboards [Moviehole]
"I'm a cynic, I'm afraid. I'm a skeptic and I don't believe in ghosts or elves. No, sorry." —Ricky Gervais, before throwing a hissy fit during an interview about Ghost Town [Envelope/LAT]
Experts have said the plus-size market offers the greatest opportunity for growth in retail today. Think about it: How many plus-size sections do you encounter when you shop these days, especially in New York? Forever 21 is wisely tapping into that market, launching a plus-size line this May called Faith 21. The average woman is a size 14, but most designers don't produce beyond a size 10. If the line is successful, we wonder if other apparently fattist stores will produce plus-size lines. [All the Rage/LAT]
Movie premieres are characteristically chock-full of random celebrities with no discernible ties to the film, but about the last person I was expecting to see at the Watchmen premiere in L.A. was Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger:
I'm very much in the Roethlisberger Fanclub, but seeing his well-meaning oafishness in any context outside of football always immediately cracks me up, especially when he's standing with his head directly in front of this phrase:
Along his arm was actress Missy Peregrym, who, judging by her size in relation to Ben, might actually just be his really hot conjoined twin who died at birth:
Ben then displayed his Super Bowl ring, remembering to thank Jesus for ending the Warner Bros / Fox stalemate over the Watchmen rights:
And just to ensure that Roethlisberger wasn't the most random celebrity at the event, Lorenzo Lamas showed up:
On the Jimmy Kimmel Show last night, Lost’s Evangeline Lilly addressed those pesky spoiler-type rumors that made the rounds last week: “You can rest assured that those are rumors. You know, in the tabloid world … if they get bored, they just make shit up.” Also, in non-Lost related news, she really hates the Bachelor (the dude, not the show). That is all. [SL-Lost]
So it seems there was a vast right-wing conspiracy surrounding Rick Santell's February 19 rant in response to President Obama's housing policy but, Santelli says, he was not a part of it. Last night, several days after a weirdly sourced, speculative blog post on Playboy's website — which linked the CNBC reporter's "Chicago Tea Party" meme to various nefarious right-wing groups and alleged his words were "scripted" by the far right — caused a stir in the blogosphere, Santelli published a long post on CNBC's website defending himself and denying any connection to the “tea party movements that have popped up” since the rant aired, such as those orchestrated by FreedomWorks, a right-wing nonprofit group that put Santelli's image on its home page soon after the rant aired, along with the words "Are you with Rick? We are."
In his post, which doesn't mention Playboy by name, Santelli sounds alternately annoyed:
The "rant heard around the world" (as it has been named by the media) on February 19th was spontaneous ... not scripted ... and any person, organization, or media outlet that claims otherwise IS INACCURATE.
And contrite:
"I hope that the President and the final stimulus plan succeed ... I love my country and hope that the current administration succeeds in fixing the complicated economic and social issues our country now faces."
Wethinks some network arm-twisting might have occurred? The network also canceled Santelli's appearance on Jon Stewart this week, and might have muscled some of the tea-party groups into disassociating themselves with the reporter. According to the AP:
Santelli's name was stripped from headlines on the home page of Re-Tea Party.com Monday after its operator was made aware of CNBC's dissatisfaction.
After it was made aware of their dissatisfaction? Not to start another conspiracy theory, but, jeez. Meanwhile, Zack Christenson, a conservative radio producer whose registration of the ChicagoTeaParty domain back in August was the cornerstone of Playboy's argument, told the Times it was “pure coincidence.”
The Playboy story has since been taken down, although we don't know if it's because of CNBC's dissatisfaction or what, since, despite being contacted by Daily Intel and a number of other news outlets, the company hasn't responded to requests for comment. In any case, the writers behind the original piece have reprinted it and are claiming victory for ... something ... on their website, the eXiled.
"Our article last Friday exposing the familiar old rightwing corporate machine behind the fake “tea party” protests, and Rick Santelli’s highly questionable role as the one-man MC for the protests’ launch event, wound up crashing the tea party’s mojo, and forcing Santelli to issue a giant apologia on CNBC’s site ... You can hear Rick’s pain as the spiked CNBC legal department butt-plug is shoved deeper and deeper in, paragraph after paragraph."
It's a great thing, the new new journalism.
The entire Internet fustercluck can be found here:
Speculation has been circulating for months that Dubai-based Istithmar was secretly trying to sell Barneys. But get this through your thick skulls, speculators, Barneys is not for sale, David Jackson, chief executive officer of Istithmar, tells WWD. He acknowledged, however, that the chain is in choppy water due to some financial messiness and the lack of a CEO. Last month, we learned a few factors (the financial liaisons in Barneys business deals) stopped approving spring orders. Jackson merely passed off those middlemen as drama queens, explaining they just wanted to get a better picture of Barneys' overall health before moving forward and calling some of the requests "unwarranted."
When asked about reports of payment delays, Jackson emphasized Barneys "has met all its obligations" and "continues to pay people." Also, they don't plan on closing any stores, not even a Co Op. Interestingly, while Saks and Neiman's have laid off hundreds of workers, Barneys hasn't laid off any or announced any major cutbacks. The retailer has been operating without a CEO since Howard Socol resigned almost a year ago. Jackson said they plan to appoint a new CEO by the middle of the year, but retail experts say it's strange they haven't appointed someone yet, and that the "lack of leadership has really hurt them." Evidently! Jackson said no one has made Istithmar — which bought Barneys for $900 million — an offer, for "$1 or $1 billion." Experts estimate the chain is worth anywhere from $450 million to much less. So they might not be selling it, but Istithmar is still screwed.
Bon Jovi is that rare breed of artist whose catchy anthems bring out the performer in all of us. And perhaps no better example of this phenomenon exists than in the following video, where a young man in Boston goes absolutely APESHIT when "Livin' on a Prayer" blasts over the loudspeaker. We've seen our share of Bon Jovi fans... but this guy really take the cake. And by "cake", we mean "virginity of lone stadium handrail."
Note: If you've ever seen Bon Jovi live, the above video will probably not surprise you. Look up I Am Legend on IMDB and you'll see this:
Tagline: "If you're listening to this, you are the Resistance."
Translation: If you're watching this, you still can't believe this film was actually directed by McG.
The Verdict: We're still not sure what to make of McG, really. Is he the tool that's fighting his studio to ensure that Terminator: Salvation gets an R-rating so he can give fanboys a momentary glimpse at Moon Bloodgood's (presumably real and spectacular) breasts? Or is he the guy that from the looks of this trailer seems as if he's on the cusp of delivering one of the best franchise reboots since Chris Nolan decided to take on Bruce Wayne? Unfortunately for him, he's probably both. Regardless, this trailer — set to the industrial angst of NIN's "The Day the World Went Away" — is chock-full of the kinds of set pieces that are guaranteed to make Michael Bay seethe with jealousy: huge robots, even huger explosions, and, gasp, realistic-seeming human emotion! The only thing it doesn't have? Christian Bale screaming at Shane Hurlbut. We can only assume they're saving that footage for the DVD.
Yet again, the announcement of an unlikely musical is the savior of a slow news day: Sleepless in Seattle will follow previously adapted Tom Hanks movies Big and Catch Me If You Can to the stage, with a planned opening on Broadway in 2010. David S. Ward and Nora Ephron will write the book, and Edward Zwick will purportedly direct. Surely producers are already fighting over the musical rights to Saving Private Ryan. [ArtsBeat/NYT]
It was surprising enough when Justin Timberlake showed up at the New York Academy of Art's annual Tribeca Ball last night and meandered through the booths, asking the students about their work. (One student told us that JT made detailed inquiries about technique and mentioned he wanted to take a painting class.) But it was downright shocking when, later that evening, Bill Clinton walked in the door. “I just finished a thing at Madison Square Garden with Billie Jean King and I got invited by Eileen Guggenheim and I had some time, so I thought I’d swing by afterwards,” he said, strolling toward the ballroom, which had been painted like a black-and-white forest and was lined with replicas of Greek figurative statues. “Oh, now isn’t this fantastic!”
We asked the president if he himself had any artistic talents. “Most people would say no,” he said, laughing. “But I’m very interested. I’ve been reading a lot about people who took up painting in later life. Hillary and I actually have two paintings at home from Tony Bennett, who is a good friend. Winston Churchill was a very good painter. Did you know that? Eisenhower, too — but not as good as Churchill. So I’ve been making a list of all the things I want to do now that I’m full-time philanthropy, and painting is one of them. I just haven’t started yet.”
At that point, a crowd of people swarmed upon Clinton, who gamely shook hands and regaled all comers. Within minutes, though, he began to make his exit, and — we swear to God this happened — locked eyes with us and grabbed our hand. “You know, in all my years of interviews, no one has asked me about my artistic skills,” he said, excitedly, still clutching our hand. (He held it for like a MINUTE. We died.) “They saved all my doodles from the White House. I do know that," he added. "I used to doodle during all the White House meetings and someone thought they were worth saving. Maybe they weren’t bad!” We asked whether this interest in painting meant he was hoping to follow in other Churchillian footsteps. “I don’t know about that,” Clinton laughed. “No. See, they’ve now learned that one of the best ways to stave off Alzheimer’s is to do new things. Studies are showing that you can form new neural networks into your 70s as long as you do something new. So if I were a nuclear physicist, the best way for me to keep from losing my memory is not to work on five physics equations a day, but to learn beginning Spanish! I promised Hillary I’d make a list of all the new things I could do. Painting is one of them.” Anything else on the list? “Learn Spanish.”
Get art criticism from Kate Spade and Liev Schreiber by viewing our Party Lines slideshow.
Norwegian actress Liv Ullmann, seen here in 2004, will direct Oscar-winning Australian actress Cate Blanchett in "Streetcar Named Desire" this year at Washington's Kennedy Center, officials announced Tuesday... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 3 Mar 2009 | 8:02 pm
As if the prospect of Spinal Tap's billionth reunion were not already unexciting enough, they've just announced that their "Unwigged and Unplugged" tour will feature Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer out of costume and playing acoustic instruments. [Variety]
Corpus designers Keith Richardson and Jerrod Cornish.
Corpus co-designers Keith Richardson and Jerrod Cornish originally met on a film set in L.A., where Cornish was acting and Richardson was styling. They hit it off and founded their preppy label in 2004, starting out with printed tees and graduating to a range of rolled-up jeans, rumpled button-downs, slouchy cardigans, and skinny ties that were scooped up by Barneys, Steven Alan, and Oak. Last summer, the duo designed a spinoff line for Urban Outfitters, byCORPUS, and they recently won the 2009 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award. We caught up with the designers in the midst of Fashion Week to discuss their unabated idolatry of Ralph Lauren and their new twist on American prep.
What’s the inspiration behind your fall collection? KR: It’s fifties-inspired. I grew up in a super-preppy part of Texas, so our collections always have that preppy university thing going on, but it's mixed with a darker, rock and roll vibe. JC: There’s also a grunge element to it, like 1992 Marc Jacobs, with a lot of plaids and tailored shirting. It’s all about taking classic pieces and twisting them a bit, like a hybrid of a motorcycle jacket and a blazer.
What kind of a person wears your designs? JC: Historically, we’ve always appealed to hipster kids, but we don’t specifically design for hipsters. A guy has to have his own sense of style and taste to appreciate the details of our clothes. There isn't a lot of embellishment — it’s more about what’s left off the garment than what’s put on it. KR: Even though we have a fashion-y, high-end look, it’s still accessible.
Who are your favorite designers? KR: Ralph Lauren has created such an amazing brand. It’s classic, it’s easy, and everyone can wear it. My dad, my nephew, and I all own the same Ralph Lauren shirt. It still looks good. JC: You can’t compete with him — he’s done so well across so many categories. Also, Margiela is amazing. He's so progressive and just has such a unique spin.
A look from the spring 2009 collection.Photo: Melissa Hom
What’s the first designer item you bought? KR: A Ralph Lauren polo shirt. JC: A Gucci belt. It was probably the only thing I could afford.
Where do you shop in New York? KR: Opening Ceremony, Bblessing, Odin, and a lot of the vintage archives, like What Comes Around Goes Around. JC: When you make clothes, it’s hard to justify going out and buying them. But we always do a walking tour around the city for inspiration — places like Rick Owens and Jil Sander.
What trends are you appreciating right now? KR: I’m liking the whole plaid crush. And I like mixing New York style, like old-school shirting and black jeans, with the L.A. color culture.
What are you coveting right now? KR: An old-school film camera. There’s something about the look of film that you can’t re-create with a digital camera. JC: I actually just bought a Thom Browne suit. It’s slim fitting, like Corpus, with a high arm hole and short cuffs.
What should every guy have in his closet? KR: A classic blue-and-white pinstriped button-down shirt. It pretty much works with anything. JC: A nice blazer that goes from day to night. Something basic that you can travel in; I’m not talking satin lapels or anything.
What’s something you never leave the house without? JC: My black vintage Persol sunglasses. They look like a Cadillac from the fifties; they’re pretty dope. I probably haven’t left the house without them for four years. KR: My keys, my iPod, my wallet, and a cup of coffee … I don’t have a trusty pair of scissors or anything.
Real-estate guru Jonathan Miller has just released his Prudential Douglas Elliman ten-year survey of Manhattan’s co-op and condo market and, as expected, the decade that started out with a (relative) bang ended with a whimper. Yes, average prices, median prices, and average-price-per-square-foot each tripled during the last ten years, and the number of sales rose 8.2 percent in the same time period. But inventory is much higher, too — 6,906 properties were on the market in 1999 compared to 2008’s 9,081. (In 2007, there were 6,446 units available for sale, which means inventory spiked an astounding 40.9 percent between then and last year.)
Per the report, “listing inventory is currently at its highest level” since Miller started tracking this stat. It takes a lot longer to sell anything nowadays, too — an average of 143 days in 2008 compared to 92 days in 1999. Townhouses are also suffering: Sales were down 56 percent from 2007 to 2008, though down just 6.3 percent stacked up against 1999, and it takes a full two weeks longer to unload one compared to back then. So when did the market start this free fall? Soon after the credit crunch began to set in mid-2007, back when many brokers were still claiming there was nowhere to go but up. Ah, hindsight.
You guys also probably look like this when trying to buy a burrito in Los Angeles unnoticed:
And in a related story, more information about the upcoming Michael Jackson auction is being released, and Scandalist has posted some of the creepier findings. Make sure to check out our favorite poem, "Children of the World" by Michael Jackson. Source: Best Week Ever | 3 Mar 2009 | 7:20 pm
Model Auguste Abeliunaite's teary turns down Jil Sander's runway were the talk of Milan Fashion Week. But why was she crying? A commenter on the Wall Street Journal's Heard on the Runway blog claiming to have worked backstage at the show said the high, uncomfortable shoes caused a painful cramp in a foot Auguste broke a while ago. But Auguste herself appears to have counter-commented on the blog, explaining she cried because the lights were too strong and her eyes are very sensitive. We hope she gets used to that if she wants a runway career. [Heard on the Runway/WSJ via Jezebel]
Alex Rodriguez was bound to be the biggest story yesterday at the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic camp because, well, he’s A-Rod. But at least he gave everyone something new and different to write about, because for some reason, this time, he brought his family with him. Not just to the stadium, mind you, but onto the field. To pose, essentially, for a photo. (Yankees beat writer Peter Abraham described his teammates as bewildered.) This isn't bad publicity, per se, or good publicity. It’s just weird publicity — the type A-Rod’s becoming increasingly adept at creating.
But here’s the best example of how A-Rod’s going to be the center of attention for the foreseeable future no matter what: He was also at the crux of the biggest story at Yankees camp yesterday, just by virtue of not being there. We count nofewerthan three stories about the front end of the Yankees rotation today, and every one of them explained that the only reason you’re reading about the front end of the Yankees rotation is because A-Rod’s on the other side of the state. Maybe this is good news for someone like CC Sabathia, who can fly under the radar (as much as a six-foot-seven man making $161 million can). But all it reminds us of is the fact that once the WBC is over in a few weeks, it’ll be all A-Rod, all the time. For the next nine years. We can’t wait.
Front Page: Org to cut 15% - 20% of operating budget -- The dire economy has hit even the industry's chief lobbying arm, the Motion Picture Assn. of America, which has been forced to scale back its budget and staff.
The following preview clip of Britney's Circus tour isn't particularly steamy, or even NSFW-caliber raunchy, but the fact that it was labeled "Britney’s Nipple Tassels (NSFW?)" on Buzzfeed and I eagerly proceeded to watch the video, well, I believe this confirms that Britney has indeed come a long way from the tattered mess she was just two years ago.
I'm still not going out of my way to find videos of Britney's nipples, but given the opportunity, I'm at least interested in seeing them, whereas if someone had sent me a video of Britney dancing with nipple tassels back in '07, I would've immediately reported them to Homeland Security.
YouTube webpage. YouTube has selected the winners of its contest to create the world's first online orchestra, choosing more than 90 professional and amateur musicians from over 30 countries through auditions... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 3 Mar 2009 | 6:43 pm
When we learned Russian socialite Dasha Zhukova had been appointed editor in chief of Pop, replacing the inimitable Katie Grand, we wondered what the hell she knows about running a magazine. She's launched a clothing line and opened an art gallery, but boasts nothing on her résumé in the way of editorial experience. Apparently, we're not the only ones who question her capabilities. Dasha has been prancing around the Milan shows, where it sounds like editors have practically bruised each other's sides, elbowing each other and scoffing at her. Or at least Style.com reports one British fashion journalist snidely commented, "I'm going to be the next queen of England," and another joked Kylie Minogue would take over Vogue. Yeah, and we're going to watch Monday Night Football instead of The City. Har. Dasha confessed she "feels like the elephant in the room."
Sure, fashion can get bitchy, and we wonder if any of the snide comments were born of bruised egos belonging to those who were passed over for the gig. To her credit, Dasha's clothing line, Kova & T, has been successful, and her Center for Contemporary Culture in Moscow is well-respected. But is she multi-talented enough to run a magazine? Daphne Guinness, who has been appointed to Pop's editorial board, seems to think so, sort of. “I am so excited about Dasha, and I think she’ll do great, great things with the magazine,” she told Style.com, which courteously informs us she did the interview over the phone while on vacation with Oscar de la Renta in the Dominican Republic. “But I would like to emphasize that I’m completely neutral here — I’m a free agent! Fashion is my family and I love everyone just the same.” Well at least Daphne will be nice to her. Maybe they'll take a girl's weekend together to one of their mansions this summer. Just think of the Facebook photos!
Most of you would probably hate a guy whose name is McG. You are right: He's probably terrible. Yet you can't deny that the guy can make a great movie (or, in this case, trailer). Here is the first full trailer released for Terminator Salvation, starring a Christian Bale as John Connor. The year is 2018, and the apocalypse has ravaged the world of everything except for Bale's goatee. While the recent Bale outburst may have given this movie a bad wrap, this trailer pretty much ensures that movie lines will be forming days in advance to catch the first screening on May 21.
Fake Spoiler alert: As with almost every other Terminator, it's pretty much a guarantee the robots learn how to feel at some point, and emit robot tears or "lube". And for the ladies, note hot half-man/half-robot towards the end... Beep beep'm beep beep yeah (or however robots hit on each other).
Oh, McG, you frosted-tipped, Charlie's Angels directing bastard: YOU HAVE DONE IT AGAIN. (Via Videogum) Source: Best Week Ever | 3 Mar 2009 | 6:10 pm
Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon, seen here in February 2009, British comic Sacha Baron Cohen and Paul Giamatti are set to star in a new comedy about miniature people, Daily Variety reported Tuesday. Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 3 Mar 2009 | 6:06 pm
The Greys Anatomy star has come under fire on the set of her latest movie Five Killers for being 'extremely unprofessional,' flaking on meetings and making ridiculous demands.
Actress Halle Berry has released a new self-titled fragrance called "Halle by Halle Berry". Berry joins a long and esteemed list of Oscar-winning celebrities before her to release fragrances, such as the aromatic adventure of Jessica Tandy, and the best-selling musky aroma that is Eau de Dunaway.
Here is the ad, which is not fully unlike CK's "The Beach":
But you know, it seems like Halle didn't put a lot of time and effort into naming her new scent. "Halle"? That's it? If you ask us, she passed up one of life's most genius marketing opportunities.
Check out our ideal Halle Berry fragrance ahead...A smell so powerful, he won't be able to resist...
"Make Me Smell Good" by Halle Berry.
And if you have no idea what we're talking about, click here for an NSFW clip of Monster's Ball. Note: It is scarring. Source: Best Week Ever | 3 Mar 2009 | 5:45 pm
Britney Spears's Circus tour kicks off tonight in New Orleans. DSquared2, who designed the costumes, have revealed more details of Britney's wardrobe, and frankly, they kind of give us chills. Don't let those furry shoulder pads scare you — designer Dan Caten told the Telegraph they're only temporary:
“It's a a [sic] kind of metamorphis [sic] from animal to ringmaster to slave, in keeping with the circus theme.
“She starts off with the cheetah-head, removes it to become the ring-master and lion-tamer, and then strips off the jacket to reveal a Swarovski-crystal corset, fishnets and thigh-high boots.”
The thigh-high boots couldn't be more on trend, and the partnership with Britney couldn't be more fitting. Dsquared2 just unveiled a fall 2009 collection of "superstar goes to Starbucks the morning after" looks at Milan Fashion Week — something Britney is wont to do. DSquared2 has also dressed Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and Rihanna for past tours. The designers tell British Vogue, "We wanted to create something much more provoking and indecent … something animalistic and primal." You can get a glimpse of the costumes in a video of Britney's rehearsal footage here.
Reuters - Fancy canapes and champagne have become rarer, guest-lists smaller and celebrities tougher to find in the front rows of some fashion shows these days. Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 3 Mar 2009 | 5:18 pm
Reuters - Dresses with mock birds in cages or fried egg shape cut-outs. Spanish designer Agatha Ruiz De La Prada showed Milan the kind of imagination she believes is needed in a woman's wardrobe at times of economic crisis. Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 3 Mar 2009 | 5:14 pm
A projectionist keeps watch over his 35mm projectors in the projection booth at the Burkina Cinema in Ouagadougou during the 21st Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO). Morocco,... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 3 Mar 2009 | 5:14 pm
A red carpet is tended to outside a cinema venue in Ouagadougou for the 21st edition of the Festival Panafricain of the Movie and Television of Ouagadougou (FESPACO). Morocco, long loved by Hollywood as... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 3 Mar 2009 | 5:14 pm
Moroccan director Mohamed Ismail(R) attends the screening of his film 'Adieu M㩲s' at the 21st edition of the Festival Panafricain of the Movie and Television of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) on MArch 01,... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 3 Mar 2009 | 5:14 pm
China's top film director Zhang Yimou, seen here in 2008 and who masterminded the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, is planning a film to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of Communist China,... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 3 Mar 2009 | 5:10 pm
Denver-based rockers The Fray, which last month scored its first #1 album, has announced plans for a summer headlining tour. The 35-city trek kicks off on June 12 in Atlanta and ends up in Spokane, WA on August 7. Jacks Mannequin opens all dates.
Cuts, shapes, fabrics and prints can have a major impact on how your beach-bod looks, so it's important to be well informed before you buy so you get it right
Arc Angels, the Austin, Texas-based all-star group formed in the wake of Stevie Ray Vaughn's death, are ready to take full flight again. After playing together periodically during the past seven years, the band plans to release a DVD this year, tour extensively -- including two appearances during this month's South By Southwest music festival and a May run with Eric Clapton in England -- and start work in its first album in 17 years.
Lady GaGa is ready to show what she can do as a headliner on the 23-date Fame Ball Tour, which kicks off March 12 at the San Diego House of Blues and wraps April 11 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
Most fans picturing rapper 50 Cent operating a joystick would probably envision the hip-hop star blasting away opponents in his latest video game release. Those same fans might be surprised to learn the hardcore rapper also has a soft spot for old-school throwbacks like "Tetris" and "Pac-Man."
AP - The longtime partner of late designer Yves Saint Laurent said Tuesday his criticism of China's human rights record prompted a Chinese buyer to sabotage an auction of two disputed bronze fountainheads.
Twenty-five years after "This Is Spinal Tap" the half-kidding
rockers are back for a new album and tour
After announcing plans for an
"Unwigged & Unplugged Tour" where the members of Spinal Tap
— Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer —
will take the stage as themselves, the unruly trio of rockers sat
down with Rolling Stone to discuss the link between music
and comedy, A Hard Day's Night and wigs:
If Spinal Tap were washed up in '84, what are they
now?
Michael McKean: Dry cleaned.
Did you all wear wigs in the movie?
Christopher...
Oasis' Liam and Noel Gallagher perform on stage in the southern German city of Munich last week. Oasis have been banned from performing in China because guitarist Noel Gallagher played at a Free Tibet... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 3 Mar 2009 | 12:33 pm
AP - In the final scene of Vincenzo Bellini's opera "La Sonnambula," the heroine is reunited with her true love after sleepwalking across the dangerously high eaves of a rooftop.
Disney will premiere "High School Musical 4" on the Disney Channel in 2010, continuing the franchise that has sold 9.5 million soundtrack copies to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Britney Spears is back and, the good news is, she's stronger than yesterday.
The Circus Starring Britney Spears kicked off tonight at New Orleans Arena, where her adoring hometown...
With two weeks of eliminations behind them, would this final group of American Idol Top 12 aspirants finally take the judges' advice into consideration?
Apparently not.
But...
Why is the easily unhinged Tatiana Del Toro an ideal wild-card candidate for American Idol? Why is Rosie O'Donnell back from the dead of Rosie Live? And, setting aside a suspicious tweet, why...
"You've got to be joking!"
This is what Chris Harrison just told me his response was when he found out that The Bachelor of the hour, Jason—whom Chris calls "the...
Belinda Carlisle is looking darn good.
At 50 years old, the former Go-Go's frontwoman is one hot mama. Now she's getting in even better shape, because she's been...
When Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens hit up the Watchmen premiere last night, he was kind enough to cover up his coif with a hat and let his girlfriend be the prettier partner for the...
Dr. Phil may not make house calls, but he apparently is willing to receive them.
E! News caught America's favorite single mother of 14, Octomom Nadya Suleman, leaving the good TV...
This Terminator Salvation trailer forced us to reconsider a couple things.
First, McG might not be that bad a choice for this. When we heard the Charlie's Angels director was taking...
Count Matt Damon among the celebs whose worldview doesn't start and end in Hollywood.
On Tuesday, the Bourne Ultimatum star took time off from filming to visit with Zimbabwean...
Today is March 3, 2009, or, in Virgin Speak, 3/3/09... SQUARE ROOT DAY! To celebrate this non-existent holiday, nerds across the world hold Square Root Day parties -- there's even a Facebook page dedicated to Square Root Day fans. We here at Bestweekever.tv are nothing if not suckers for reasons to celebrate anything... so we've put together this handy guide to fulfill all of your SqRD wishes. Here are 9 Ways To Celebrate Square Root Day! And make sure to check back here on 7/8/9 for our list of 
