Read more posts by Bilge Ebiri

Filed Under: Perils in Nude Modeling, Scott Rice, Vulture Picture Palace

Source: Vulture | 27 Mar 2009 | 9:30 pm

Capsule reviews of `Monsters vs. Aliens,' others (AP)

AP - Capsule reviews of films opening this week:

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 27 Mar 2009 | 9:25 pm

Capsule reviews of `Monsters vs. Aliens,' others (AP)

AP - Capsule reviews of films opening this week:

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 27 Mar 2009 | 9:25 pm

The 22nd Street Battle of the Bozos

When Harrison & Star group account supervisor Martin Doheny brought an inflatable Bozo the Clown bop bag to his company holiday party, it was a total hit. "We called it our extra team member," said assistant account executive Michael McSwain. Bozo drifted from office to office, and occasionally sat through meetings, before people generally lost interest and he found himself sitting alone in the window of colleague Beth Owens's office. "There's a high-rise going up across the street, and we thought the construction workers would like seeing Bozo when they were pouring concrete or whatever," McSwain explains. And so Bozo was sort of forgotten for a while, staring emptily out onto West 22nd Street.

In early March, Owens looked across the street and noticed a matching Bozo staring back at her from the seventh-floor window of the building next to the construction site. Owens was puzzled, but Bozo seemed pleased. So she taped a sign to his chest saying, "Hey Beefcake!" Shortly after, the Bozo across the street was wearing his own sign: "STAY TUNED … "

Within a week, a second Bozo appeared beside him. Workers from Harrison & Star investigated the lobby of the building across the street and discovered that the floor in question was occupied by a company called VideoHelper. From that point forward, McSwain says, the entire office "treated the Bozo payback initiative like any other client project." Brainstorming meetings were held; ideas flew back and forth over e-mail on how to retaliate ("Sniper — take one out," suggested one senior vice-president). After much discussion, Doheny and his higher-ups decided on the size of the surge — one Bozo in each window, two floors only, so there'd be room for a larger surge later if necessary — and tasked their team with gathering up the Bozos needed.

That maneuver is planned for Monday. This morning, H&S workers were startled to see three Bozos in the window across the street. And, then, shortly after, a fourth. But little do the pranksters of VideoHelper know that as of press time, the entire office of H&S is busy inflating and preparing a bop-clown army for Monday's deployment. Anyone who happens to be walking past 16 West 22nd Street that day should check it out, and stay tuned to see how the office across the street responds.

Read more posts by Deborah Snoonian

Filed Under: clowns, crazytown, sometimes it's the little things, wars

Source: Daily Intel | 27 Mar 2009 | 9:24 pm

OMFG: Shamwow Guy Shampows A Prostitute In The Face

Recognize this guy? Look closer. No... it's not Benicio Del Toro... nope, not Thomas Haden Church either (good guess though.) Picture the guy above in a neon polo, talking into a headset while wiping things up with a glorified rag... YES. THIS IS A MUGSHOT OF THE SHAMWOW GUY. What kind of a world are we living in where an infomercial legend wearing pajamas and a Kohl's bomber jacket has to pay for sex? You know who probably never pays for sex? Billy Mays, that's who. That guy is all class. On a separate note, we wonder if Mr. Shlomi used a Shamwow to wipe away any blood/fingerprints/prostitute stains. Yet another great use for a fantastic product! View Vince's best work ahead...
Source: Best Week Ever | 27 Mar 2009 | 9:23 pm

In the Motherhood Lets Us Down a Little

We had hopes for In the Motherhood, the mom-driven sitcom that premiered last night on ABC. Not high ones or anything, but certainly hopes. Though its original inspiration — a series of seven-minute webisodes starring Leah Remeni and Jenny Garth McCarthy and based on real-life family horror stories submitted by actual moms — is only semi-funny, for the TV version, ABC upped the budget and recast Cheryl Hines and Megan Mullally, two of television's funniest actresses, as the leads. So why, then, was it so painfully bad? We didn’t laugh once during the 21-minute episode, not even when someone fell off the roof — and we always laugh when people fall off roofs!

In the transition from the web, the show lost a key element when real-mother-generated stories became off-limits (see here). The situations in last night's episode — a child tells his class that Santa Claus is a lie, one mom pretends to be pregnant for the attention, a single mom haplessly dates her colleague — felt too neat and, well, sitcom-y, to have come from the real world, and therefore weren't as amusing. The gloss of network TV makes the show seem recycled in a "haven't I seen this dumb show before?" kind of way, and the laugh track kills any desire you might have to actually chuckle. It's a shame that the talents of Hines and Mullally were so wasted.

Read more posts by Emma Rosenblum

Filed Under: in the motherhood, stinkers

Source: Vulture | 27 Mar 2009 | 9:15 pm

Rihanna Police Photo as...Art?! (E! Online)

E! Online - Rihanna's beatdown by Chris Brown not only caused headlines, now it's inspiring art.

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 27 Mar 2009 | 9:13 pm

Family Feud? Candy Spelling Speaks Out

Hollywood matriarch says she's never met her granddaughter.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 27 Mar 2009 | 9:09 pm

Ruth Madoff Got $2 Million From British Account Weeks Before Bernie Was Arrested

Britain's Serious Fraud Office (we take this to mean they have a Hilarious Fraud Office, as well, that deals with things like Internet psychics and snack-related lawsuits) has been digging around Bernie Madoff's London operations looking for possible accomplices to his giant Ponzi scheme. So far, they haven't brought any charges against anyone, but they have confirmed that Ruth Madoff received $2 million in payments from her husband's businesses in Britain just weeks before he was arrested in December. Which means — when you figure this in, plus the $5 million she withdrew two weeks before her husband confessed his financial empire was a "giant Ponzi scheme" and $10 million the day before he turned himself in — Ruth had $17 million in cash lying around the day her husband was arrested. You have to wonder: Was she planning on taking it out to the club and making it rain?

Britain Considers Charges in Madoff Case [DealBook/NYT]

Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: bernard madoff, bernie madoff, business, london, made-off, ponzi schemes, ruth madoff

Source: Daily Intel | 27 Mar 2009 | 9:09 pm

The 30 Classiest Angela Lansbury Blingees

30. whatthekeck
29. kevin
28. danni
27. marywithchildren
26. Silent Syren
25. marywithchildren
24. Whitney
23. Franko
22. MeganTheFirst
21. imattmypants
20. marin8it
19. Sarah O.
18. marywithchildren
17. Courtney
16. The Original M
15. Silent Syren
14. Sarah O.
13. nate
12. whatthekeck
11. Jos
10. heidi
9. Birch
8. J
7. Silent Syren
6. Fifi
5. marin8it
4. Dylan
3. imattmypants
2. AM!
1. imattmypants
With thanks to star intern Erin Winterbottom for her help!
Source: Best Week Ever | 27 Mar 2009 | 9:08 pm

AC/DC Set Back Czech-American Relations by Years

Czech Republic prime minister Mirek Topolánek has apologized for calling President Obama's stimulus plan "a road to hell" on Wednesday, but says it's not his fault: "AC/DC played here last week and their cult song ‘Highway to Hell’ might have led me in that very improvised speech to use the phrase ‘road to hell,'" he told a Czech newspaper, adding that Obama's economic policy is more like a fast machine that keeps its motor clean. [Lede/NYT]

Read more posts by Lane Brown

Filed Under: acdc, music, politics

Source: Vulture | 27 Mar 2009 | 9:05 pm

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld Tight-lipped on Pop

Last night, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld attended the American Museum of Natural History Dance wearing an enviable, appropriately green Balmain dress. We asked her how her new gig on the editorial board of Pop magazine was going. She replied, “Uh, it’s still in progress. I don’t want to talk about it.” At least she didn't say she didn't really have the job, like Daphne Guinness did.

Read more posts by Bennett Marcus

Filed Under: balmain, julia restoin-roitfeld, party lines

Source: The Cut | 27 Mar 2009 | 8:55 pm

Top 10 movie car chase scenes

Which star do you most associate with car-chase movies: Steve McQueen or Michael Caine? Gene Hackman or Burt Reynolds?
Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 27 Mar 2009 | 8:50 pm

FAA in Cahoots With Bird Terrorists!

"Louise. I think you'd better get my Pentagon plant on the phone."

Thank God for Captivate, the little television news feed on our elevator! If it weren't for that, we would have missed this horrifying piece of news. It turns out that not only are there more avian attacks on airplanes than the public is told about, but the FAA — our own government — is trying to keep these successful terrorist maneuvers under wraps. Someone very high up, in fact, is trying to cover up for the bird buccaneers. From USA Today:

Two months after a flock of geese snuffed out an Airbus A320's engines and forced it to ditch in the Hudson, the FAA filed a little-noticed proposal that would bar release of its extensive record of bird collisions dating back to 1990 ... The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says that the information could mislead the public and its release could prompt some airports and others not to report incidents.

In fact, attacks have increased since 2000, up to 7,439 animal-plane collisions in 2007, mostly involving birds, from 5,872 in 2000. That's an increase of 25 percent — which the government doesn't want you to know about. What are they afraid will happen if civilians get their hands on this kind of information? Someone will write hysterical, paranoid blog posts to terrify the public about a farcical travel threat?

FAA to seal bird-strike records [USAT]

Read more posts by Chris Rovzar

Filed Under: air travel, bird buccaneers, birds, faa, Terrorists of the Sky

Source: Daily Intel | 27 Mar 2009 | 8:45 pm

Who’s Going to Compose the First Great Bailout-Rock Anthem?

Whenever there have been times of turbulence in this great nation of ours, musicians have risen to the challenge and composed memorable songs that reflect the national mood and, sometimes, serve as an inspirational call to arms. The Revolutionary War War of 1812 had Francis Scott Key and "The Star-Spangled Banner," the Vietnam War had Buffalo Springfield and "For What It's Worth," and the Gulf War had "Voices That Care." Okay, so maybe that last one was neither memorable nor inspirational, but that's beside the point. What we're trying to get at is this: We really need someone to step up and write the first truly kick-ass entry in the brand-new genre we're dubbing Bailout Rock. And, judging from the last two nights of late-night television, we currently have two contenders for the throne: Prince Rogers Nelson and country-music star John Rich.

Prince performed "Ol Skool Company" on the Tonight Show on Wednesday night (sample line: "Fat cats on Wall Street, they got a bailout / Think it was AIG"), and last night on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, country-music artist John Rich belted out his hit song "Shuttin' Detroit Down" (sample lyric: "Now I see all these big shots whinin' on the evening news / About how they're losing billions and it's up to me and you / To come running to the rescue"). So, VultureWatchers, what say you? Which do you prefer? We've got both clips for you below.

Here's John Rich with "Shuttin' Detroit Down" (currently in the top twenty on Billboard's country-music charts):

And here's Prince from Wednesday night's episode of the Tonight Show:

Read more posts by Mark Graham

Filed Under: Bailout Rock, John Rich, Music, Prince, Turn It Up Man

Source: Vulture | 27 Mar 2009 | 8:45 pm

Broke Ex-TV Star Holds Garage Sale

Ex-"Charles in Charge" star Willie Aames, facing foreclosure, holds garage sale.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 27 Mar 2009 | 8:27 pm

Michael Scott Paper Company Announces New Hire

If you like The Office and hate mild spoilers, stop reading! According to EW's Michael Ausiello, the Michael Scott Paper Company, founded on last night's episode, will soon add a third employee: Ryan Howard (né B.J. Novak). This was hinted at in last night's promo, in which Michael visited Ryan at his current place of employment, a bowling alley. We thank Quentin Tarantino and his fast-track shooting schedule for Inglourious Basterds for making Novak available again so quickly. [Ausiello Files/EW]

Read more posts by Lane Brown

Filed Under: bj novak, the office, tv

Source: Vulture | 27 Mar 2009 | 8:25 pm

A melodic 'Finian Rainbow' soars at 'Encores!' (AP)

AP - Whimsy with a social conscience — and a glorious score.

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 27 Mar 2009 | 8:22 pm

Bill Blass Could Return This Year

Peacock International Holdings LLC is looking for a new designer to helm Bill Blass. The men's shirt company bought the label, which Peter Som used to design, from troubled NexCen for $10 million in December. While Peacock won't comment, word is they're hoping to bring the women's and men's collections back this year. Could we see a Blass show at Fashion week in September? Stay tuned. [WWD]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: bill blass, blass watch, peacock holdings

Source: The Cut | 27 Mar 2009 | 8:20 pm

Opera lures viewers to multiplexes

Front Page: 'Met: Live in HD' gets theater orgs' attention -- As legiters seek footholds for old-fashioned live entertainment in the world of new media, the Metropolitan Opera has struck a profitable balance between stage and screen -- and theater orgs have begun to take note.
Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 27 Mar 2009 | 8:16 pm

‘No Really, the President Is EXPECTING Me’

It's spelled Suck It.

Apparently White House security was kind of tetchy at today's banker bro-down, and while some CEOs were given the VIP treatment and were "quickly ushered in through the security gate" and straight up to the POTUS, others were awkwardly subjected to the same indignities as any old visitor to the White House. And not who you might think! According to Bloomberg, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon was one of those detained.

Dimon was asked to repeat his name twice and spell it once. He said he was there for a meeting with the president.

Adorable. We think they probably stopped him because of his blue eyes.

Bank CEOs Tell Obama They Are Working Toward Recovery [Bloomberg]

Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: barack obama, jamie dimon, white house, White Men With Money

Source: Daily Intel | 27 Mar 2009 | 8:08 pm

Studios tailor the movie trailer

Front Page: Online, bigscreen ads keep buzz in high gear -- According to Summit Entertainment, the "Twilight" trailer generated an astounding 55 million views on its website and other outlets such as MySpace, Yahoo, iTunes and YouTube.
Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 27 Mar 2009 | 8:06 pm

Guest of Cindy Sherman Co-director Paul H-O on Dating Sherman and Fighting Julian Schnabel

Guest of Cindy Sherman, which opens today, chronicles the ill-fated relationship between famous photographer Sherman and Paul H-O (short for Hasegawa-Overacker), a former cable-access star. Sherman would rather you not see the film; after screenings last year, she issued a statement expressing regret that she’d cooperated with the filmmakers, documentarian Tom Donahue and H-O, who met and fell in love with Sherman when he was still doing his goofy art-world party-crashing show, “Gallery Beat” (which ran from 1993 to 2000). Vulture spoke to H-O about his relationship with Sherman, the art world’s wimpiness, and Julian Schnabel’s temper.

When’s was the last time you and Cindy talked?
Two-and-a-half years ago. After I moved out [of Sherman’s Soho loft], there was a certain point when she wrote me an e-mail and it said she didn't feel like she needed to talk to me anymore.

But she cooperated with the film while you and Tom were making it.
Oh yeah, yes, very much so. I mean, we did it legally — we got life rights and rights to images.

The New York art world, as seen in all the archival footage you and Tom worked into the film, seems very likable during the “Gallery Beat” era. With, of course, the exception of Julian Schnabel, who basically hates on you.
He looks a lot worse in other footage we didn’t use. Oh my God.

He rambled on further about how awful you are?
Oh, there was quite a back-and-forth going on there. I got some good punches in.

We were hoping it would come to fisticuffs.
That's the funny thing about the art world.

Everybody's a wimp?
Yeah. I mean, if you push somebody, they might start crying, you know.

Parts of the film are almost like a requiem for a time before big money ruined the art world. You seem hurt not only by what happened to your relationship, but also sad about what's become of the art world.
I am not hurt by what happened to the art world.

Annoyed?
I became alienated from what it became. In a lot of ways, I'm very detached from the elements in the film that might seem like they're, you know, deep emotional moments.

The title of the film comes from a night when you arrive at a formal dinner party with Cindy to discover that not only are you not seated at your famous girlfriend’s table, but you’re treated like a nobody.
I really did feel support of the artist, of her accomplishment. It's like, "Okay, you're the admiral — I can accept that." I just like to be the captain of my own boat. I need to have my own boat.

Read more posts by Simon Dumenco

Filed Under: art, chat room, cindy sherman, guest of cindy sherman, movies, paul h-o

Source: Vulture | 27 Mar 2009 | 8:00 pm

'Monsters' buzz gives boost to 3D revolution

Editor's note: Watch The Screening Room March show at the following times: Saturday 28 March: 0730, 1800, Sunday 29 March: 0530, 1830, Monday 30 March: 0400 (all times GMT)
Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 27 Mar 2009 | 7:59 pm

T.I. Gets Year in Jail for Weapons Charges

Rapper T.I. slammed with prison sentence, despite community service efforts.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 27 Mar 2009 | 7:52 pm

Charles Grassley Makes a ‘That’s What She Said’ Joke

The Republican senator from Iowa is quick with a one-liner. Earlier this month he said that AIG was "sucking on the tit" of the taxpayer and everyone laughed. Of course, last week, his quip that AIG executives should "follow the Japanese model" and "resign, or go commit suicide" didn't go over so well. But yesterday he regained his bounce on the Senate floor, livening up an otherwise dull budget hearing with a joke about banging another senator's wife. His opening came after he pressed Budget Committee chairman Kent Conrad to include an amendment of his to a budget resolution by bringing up the fact that Conrad owed him a favor.

"Oh, you are good," Conrad responded.

To which Grassley replied: "Well, your wife said the same thing."

Not bad, old man. Not bad at all.

[via HuffPo]

Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: charles grassley, Early and Awesome, humor in suitiform, kent conrad, senators

Source: Daily Intel | 27 Mar 2009 | 7:46 pm

Meet the New Girl: Kinée Diouf

Kinée (NY Models) at Julien Macdonald.

Some of fashion's most exquisite creatures come from Senegal. One of our favorites is 23-year-old Kinée Diouf. Alber Elbaz has been championing the rising star since his spring 2007 show. Sure, Diouf worked with Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot for W's March 2007 issue and mugged for M.A.C in 2007, but she's remained relatively under the radar since. And we can't understand it. A model as elegant (and absolutely stunning in the flesh) as Diouf should be working the pages of French Vogue and Numero regularly. This Fashion Week, Diouf walked for Yigal Azrouël, Vivienne Westwood, and Lanvin, of course. We hope that this year marks her long-awaited breakout season.

Model Profile: Kinée Diouf

For more runway stars, check out our Model Manual.

Read more posts by James Lim

Filed Under: alber elbaz, designers, fall 2009, industry players, kinee diouf, lanvin, mac, mert alas and marcus piggot, model tracker, models, new york fashion week, paris fashion week, vivienne westwood, yigal azrouel

Source: The Cut | 27 Mar 2009 | 7:35 pm

Public Theater Accused of Loving Hitler

You may have heard of Godwin’s Law, a rule originally applied to Usenet message boards, which states that as a discussion gets longer, “the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.” If you’re not familiar with that particular formulation, you have surely encountered the phenomenon it describes in your own life. And behold, buried in this conscientiously responsible Villager story on the community-board meeting about a proposal to build a larger stairway at the entrance to the Public Theater on Lafayette Street, it’s Godwin’s Law in action! “Isabelle Fisher, who lives on Lafayette St. ‘directly opposite’ the theater, took things farther, likening the institutional growth trend in the Village to Nazi Germany’s expansionist ‘lebensraum — like Austria in the 1930s.’” In summary, Shakespeare in the Park caused the Holocaust. [Villager]

Read more posts by Ben Mathis-Lilley

Filed Under: godwins law, nazis, Neighborhood News

Source: Daily Intel | 27 Mar 2009 | 7:14 pm

"The Cross" makes worthy story less interesting (Reuters)

Reuters - Of the many wacky entries in the Guinness Book of World Records, one of the most intriguing is the one concerning the "world's longest walk." The record belongs to Arthur Blessitt, who has managed to traverse some 38,102 miles, walking through every inhabited area on Earth and no fewer than 52 war zones in the process.
Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 27 Mar 2009 | 7:06 pm

1 WTC: A Return to Linguistic Normalcy

When the Port Authority announced that what had been portentously known as the Freedom Tower would instead be simply called “One World Trade Center,” it was the end of a linguistic era. Then-governor Pataki’s symbolically charged name for the 1,776-foot-tall fortified skyscraper was being replaced by a simple address, however poignant an echo of what had stood there before.

The word "freedom" is a complicated one, with a history in the language that stretches back to the time of Old English. Coincidentally, the week before, the Oxford English Dictionary published an entry for the noun that was revised for the first time since its original publication in 1900. It divides the word into 26 distinct senses, not including compounds and derivatives. "Freedom fries" didn’t make the cut.

Freedom is a good thing. No one would go on record claiming to be opposed to freedom, just as no one would claim to be opposed to peace. So the pretense that by screaming "freedom" loudly enough one could bulldoze through any obstacle was an especially irritating one. It’s hard to believe that anyone — regardless of the strength of their patriotism, or their disapproval of the diplomatic position of France regarding the invasion of Iraq — seriously subscribed to the notion that the name of the quintessentially American French fries should be changed to "freedom fries," even if the House of Representatives did just this in its cafeterias in 2003, right around the time when the Freedom Tower also got its name. But then again, in 1917, jingoistically anti-German Americans similarly campaigned for sauerkraut to be renamed "liberty cabbage."

"Freedom" seems to be losing its cachet as a cheap rhetorical trick. In George W. Bush’s inaugural address in 2005, he used the word 27 times; it was his most frequent content word. But Barack Obama used it only three times in his inaugural; it came in behind "nation," "America," "people," "work," and "generation." The superpatriotic uses still linger — Kid Rock’s current National Guard–recruitment-commercial song, “Warrior,” has the chorus “Freedom ain’t so free / When you breathe red, white, and blue / I’m giving all of myself / How ’bout you?” — but by now this jingoistic use seems like a throwback.

Which is why the Freedom Tower lost its name; as it was signing up tenants (the first commercial one is a big Chinese company), those echoes became a marketing liability. “Frankly, we’ve gotten a very interested and warm reception” for the name change, Port Authority chairman Anthony Coscia told reporters this week. Unsurprisingly, Pataki took umbrage, declaring that “the Freedom Tower is not simply another piece of real estate and not just a name for marketing purposes.” But as one source close to the deal told this magazine, “The way the site was politicized for so many years I think has left a bad taste in the mouths of the people who are actually trying to get things done there.” That will allow people to go to work in an office building, instead of in a statement.

Read more posts by Jesse Sheidlower

Filed Under: freedom tower, george pataki, real estate, world trade center

Source: Daily Intel | 27 Mar 2009 | 7:00 pm

Kira Plastinina Might Move to New York to Go to Parsons

So precious and innocent! For now ...

Even though she was recently forced to close most of her U.S. stores, 16-year-old Kira Plastinina isn't giving up on fashion. She's planning to go to fashion school — either Central St. Martins in London or Parsons in New York. "If you look at my collection and efforts now versus six months ago, I've definitely grown and improved," she said. "I really want to make my experience complete by getting a professional designer's education. I want to continue to grow and evolve and inspire the girls that go to my store with stronger and more mature collections." Well yes, Kira, maturing would be a good idea.

The heiress is currently in school in Moscow and says she has a year to decide where she wants to go. After a few moments of consideration we have decided Kira should most definitely come here, even though the pants she used to make with zipper vents in the butt part offend us greatly. But imagine having a famous Russian socialite running around Parsons, participating in student fashion shows, sitting front-row at Fashion Week, going out partying, getting caught with "whipped cream" on her nostril ... the possibilities are endless! Olivia Palermo might become nothing more than a hazy memory.

Kira Plastinina Goes Back to School! [Fashion Week Daily]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: kira plastinina, parsons, Smells Like Teen Spirit

Source: The Cut | 27 Mar 2009 | 6:50 pm

90s Movie Madness: Round 2, Brackets A & B

Voting for Bracket A and Bracket B of 90s Movie Madness have concluded, and it's on to Round Two - vote for Round 2, Brackets A & B after the jump: Remember, the question isn't "Which movie is better," it's "Which movie is more 90s?" - voting will be open until Tuesday morning, so you have several days to argue away in the comments: If you haven't voted for Bracket C and Bracket D yet, you have until Monday! (poll embeds via xversusy.com)
Source: Best Week Ever | 27 Mar 2009 | 6:26 pm

BEFORE AND AFTER?: Photoshop Is Madonna’s Best Frenemy

A reader has sent us the following side-by-side of Madonna Before and After photoshop. Or is that After and After? Because while we think Madonna probably looks like a Ringwraith sans hood in person, we really have trouble believing that the "before" photoshop image would have the girl looking like a precog in a wig: Then again, most women 50+ would probably give anything to look like the before picture. The after photo? Hello Mrs. Rorschach!
Source: Best Week Ever | 27 Mar 2009 | 6:25 pm

“The Potty Dance” Brought To You By NAMBLA

The fake Fat Boy rapper (wait, is it a real Fat Boy?) at the helm of the this Pull Ups commercial tells us not to be afraid of "The Potty Dance", a hate-to-admit-it-catchy rap song aimed at children who need to stop peeing in their pants and need to start aiming it into a toi-toi. This song is sort of like the "It's a Small World" of sh*t-related kids music videos... but any song teaching kids how to take their pants down sounds like the latest hit single off of the Bad Idea Pampers Inc. label. Admit it... you love it.
Source: Best Week Ever | 27 Mar 2009 | 6:17 pm

Calvin Klein Works Hard For Your Money (Fashion Wire Daily)

Fashion Wire Daily - "Subtly sexy," was the theme of the Calvin Klein men's and women's apparel and accessories for Fall 2009, said creative director Kevin Carrigan at the collection's presentation on Thursday, March 26, in New York, which included everything from relaxed sportswear for the office to a new denim collection, Calvin Klein Jeans Body.

Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 27 Mar 2009 | 6:13 pm

I Do Not Hook Up, I Just Feel My Own Boob

When all else fails, record industry, just toss out a picture of Kelly Clarkson grabbing her own boob like a softcore Cinemax heroine: Some record exec clearly saw the original "I Do Not Hook Up" single and figured "We're never gonna move any copies with that boobless pic, and not just because people stopped buying singles 30 years ago -- better go to Plan B. 'B' as in, 'grabbing her own B-oob.'" (Separate topic: coming out with a song called "I Do Not Hook Up" seems a little defensive, no? It'd be like coming out with a song called "Seriously, I Have No Problem With Black People." Exactly the same, in fact. Anyway...)
Source: Best Week Ever | 27 Mar 2009 | 6:12 pm

Gold Medalist's Alleged Stalker a 'Loner'

Accused stalker pleads not guilty, ordered to stay away from Shawn Johnson.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 27 Mar 2009 | 6:09 pm

Rachel Zoe Spills Details on Her Clothing Line

In her quest to become Rachel Zoe Inc., which includes trademarking the phrases I DIE™ and BANANAS™ and threatening to take out lawsuits against local artists, the stylist is launching a clothing line. She tells People.com, "It will be absolutely, 100% accessible fashion for sure — for everybody. There’s no reason for me to do a luxury-level design. That’s not who I am. I don’t think it’s what people want from me. I think that I would need to give people that fantasy becoming a reality. That’s my job.” Zoe offered few details on the line, but said it would include jewelry, clothing, bags, and fragrance. Christopher Sauvé, the artist Zoe threatened to sue for making an "I DIE. BANANAS." T-shirt, told us his lawyer did a little digging and found out the line is supposed to be called "I Die." That explains one trademark, but what does she have up her billowy sleeves for BANANAS™? The suspense is killing us. I DIE™.

Rachel Zoe to Launch Affordable Clothing Line [StyleWatch/People]
Related: Rachel Zoe Trademarked ‘I Die’ and ‘Bananas’

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: i die, industry players, rachel zoe, The Twilight Zoe

Source: The Cut | 27 Mar 2009 | 6:05 pm

Tony Scott boards 'Unstoppable'

Front Page: Director hitches on to Fox thriller -- Tony Scott has boarded the Fox thriller "Unstoppable," intending to make it the next film he directs.
Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 27 Mar 2009 | 5:46 pm

Geoffrey Rush debuts on Broadway to rave reviews (Reuters)

Reuters - Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush's Broadway debut earned rave reviews on Friday for his role as a 400-year-old king facing death while his empire crumbles in the absurdist comedy "Exit The King."
Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 27 Mar 2009 | 5:40 pm

Cruising With John Mayer At The VH1 Save the Music Foundation (Fashion Wire Daily)

Fashion Wire Daily - "You're a very well-dressed crowd," joked singer Gavin Rossdale as he took the stage onboard the Carnival Splendor cruise ship docked at the port of San Pedro in Los Angeles, as one of the headliners for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation's "One Splendid Evening" charity concert held on Thursday, March 26.

Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 27 Mar 2009 | 5:38 pm

T.I. sentenced to a year and a day, fined

Rap star T.I. was sentenced in Atlanta federal court Friday to one year and one day in prison and ordered to pay a $100,300 fine on weapons charges related to purchasing machine guns and silencers.
Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 27 Mar 2009 | 5:25 pm

Rapper T.I. Sentenced to Year in Prison on Weapons Charges

A judge sentenced Rapper T.I. to one year and a day behind bars on federal weapons charges on Friday.
Source: FOXNews.com | 27 Mar 2009 | 5:23 pm

Saks Picks Up Christian Siriano’s Collection

Christian Siriano, fall 2009.

When we last spoke to him, Christian Siriano was tight-lipped about which new stores had picked up his fall 2009 collection, but he wasn't lying when he said they were "big." Saks Fifth Avenue will sell the Project Runway wunderkind's fall line in its new in-store boutique for up-and-coming designers, WWD reports. This is huge for Christian. Despite recent economic hardships, Saks is still part of the holy trinity of retailers, along with Barneys and Bergdorf. It's a good move on their part, too, since ventures like the up-and-coming designer boutique might help draw in the customers they so desperately need.

On top of the new Saks account, Christian just extended his deal with Moody Mammas maternity line, and will design a fall collection for the West Coast–based label (you'll find that line at Nordstrom and specialty stores around the country). He also just signed on to design costumes for the movie Eloise in Paris, starring Uma Thurman, about a woman who goes to Paris for Fashion Week and winds up chasing after a stolen dress.

Is anyone else amazed that Siriano is this hot almost a whole year after winning Project Runway? We've hardly heard a peep from Leanne Marshall, Kenley Collins is in trouble for alleged cat violence, Jay McCarroll made a documentary about himself that no one liked, and Santino Rice judged RuPaul's Drag Race. That may be a fabulous show, but it sure as hell can't compare to a Saks account.

BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN [WWD]

See Christian Siriano's complete fall 2009 collection.

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: christian siriano, designers, eloise in paris, moody mamas, project runway, saks, uma thurman

Source: The Cut | 27 Mar 2009 | 5:20 pm

Reality Check: 'Idol' Keeps It Interesting as Top 9 Chosen

Normally on elimination nights it's the big vote off that's supposed to leave us shocked. In this case there was nothing surprising about who went home.
Source: FOXNews.com | 27 Mar 2009 | 4:50 pm

Lionsgate cuts 8% of staff

Front Page: Minimajor eliminates 45 job slots -- Lionsgate is cutting 8% of its staff, trimming the number of job slots by 45 to about 500.  
Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 27 Mar 2009 | 4:38 pm

'Idol' gives Fox easy win

Front Page: 'Motherhood' defeats 'My Name Is Earl' -- With an elimination round of "American Idol," Fox won the Thursday 18-49 demo race handily while the beginning of the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA basketball tournament fared slightly better for CBS than last week's opening games and ABC, which finished second for the night, preemed sitcom "In the Motherhood" to numbers equivalent of "Ugly Betty."
Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 27 Mar 2009 | 4:33 pm

Fox lines up summer slate

Front Page: 'Dance' and 'Mental' will return to network -- Fox is kicking off its summer slate in late May, starting with the return of "So You Think You Can Dance" and new drama "Mental." As previously announced, "Dance" launches its fifth season on Thursday, May 21, with a two-hour special (the night after the
Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 27 Mar 2009 | 4:28 pm

A booth a MIPTV, the world's audiovisual entertainment trade show

A booth a MIPTV, the world's audiovisual entertainment trade show, in Cannes, southern France in 2008. Fast growing TV territories, China and the Middle East, as well as the new age of TV in the multi-screen...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 27 Mar 2009 | 4:14 pm

People attend MIPTV, the world's largest audiovisual entertainment trade show

People attend MIPTV, the world's largest audiovisual entertainment trade show, in Cannes, southern France in 2008. Fast growing TV territories, China and the Middle East, as well as the new age of TV in...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 27 Mar 2009 | 4:14 pm

Patrons watch television at a sports bar

Patrons watch television at a sports bar in Miami Lakes, Florida. 2008 was the year of the one-minute hike in the couch potato syndrome as TV fans around the globe spent more time than ever glued to the...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 27 Mar 2009 | 4:14 pm

Judas Priest To Revisit 'British Steel' On Summer Tour

Judas Priest plans to play albums from its past and present in their entirety this year. The group will hold a preliminary 30th anniversary of its 1980 "British Steel" album during a 17-date North American summer concert tour

Source: Billboard.com | 27 Mar 2009 | 4:10 pm

I Wish I Knew How To Quit You, Internet

But I can't... (quiet sobbing)... I can't. (whispered) And I never will. (via Buzzfeed)
Source: Best Week Ever | 27 Mar 2009 | 3:58 pm

Tortoise Boards the 'Ancestorship' This June

Veteran post-rock act Tortoise will return June 23rd with their first new studio album in five years. Entitled "Beacons of Ancestorship," the eleven song Thrill Jockey set was recorded primarily from Summer of 2008 through early 2009 at drummer John McEntire's Soma Studios in Chicago.

Source: Billboard.com | 27 Mar 2009 | 3:54 pm

Tweet, Tweet! Celebs Are All A-Twitter

Ashton, Lance, Diddy and Kathy are opening up, maybe too much, on Twitter.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 27 Mar 2009 | 3:32 pm

Is John Mayer Giving up Twitter Over Aniston Split?

After rumor mill says Jen Aniston dumped John Mayer over Twitter obsession, the singer says he's getting ready to kick the habit
Source: FOXNews.com | 27 Mar 2009 | 3:26 pm

WATCH: Ride Along With Martina McBride

Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 27 Mar 2009 | 3:12 pm

CAPTION THIS: Vanilla Ice Is Trying To Tell Us Something

Seems like Vanilla Ice is trying to tell us something via vintage finger tattoo. It looks like the tatt says "RIDE WIDE OPEN"... but it might also say "OPN 2 PORN". Or "SPARE $$$" Or "ICE ICE BB". Can you guys make out what he's saying, and then also with each other?
Source: Best Week Ever | 27 Mar 2009 | 3:01 pm

GUESS THE CELEB: 10 Years Too Late For The Matrix Halloween Costume Edition

Who's that long-haired goth 90s cowboy-lookin' dude under that Undertaker hat? Could that be? Nooo........... HINT: It's not Boy George. HINT #2: Well, it might be Boy George. Leave your guesses (/ non-guess jokes) in the comments - answer after the jump: Why it's Nicolas Cage of course, on the set of his new movie Something Surely Worth Seing Dangerous. He's about to change out of his normal clothes and hairpiece and into his costume (zuhhhh-zinggg!!!)
Source: Best Week Ever | 27 Mar 2009 | 3:00 pm

The Office: Will You Choose The Michael Scott Paper Company?

On last night's brand new episode of Jerry Maguire The Office, all "H" broke loose as Michael Scott officially cut his 58-foot long Dunder Mifflin umbilical cord, leaving the company and taking, of all people, Pam with him. It was an episode chock full of hilarious moment (specifically Phyllis being rolled away in her chair), and opens up a whole new world of possible directions for the show to careen off to. But imagine our surprise this morning when we received the following e-mail from one Michael Scott, asking us to "Choose The Michael Scott Paper Company". And it read:

Dear whom it may concern, Bored? Poor? Lonely? Not if you take up this opportunity to join a company on the verge of the cutting edge of paper! Hi, I'm Michael Gary Scott. I've been working in paper for the last fifteen years and with paper since I was eight. As the manager of Dunder Mifflin, Scranton I learned two things: everything about the paper business and that Dunder Mifflin is a suckee company. I'm taking that expertness and creating The Michael Scott Paper Company.

This is your chance to join the ranks of people that have made millions selling paper: Robert Dunder, the Hearst family, those people that make counterfeit money, future me... I cannot promise success, but I will promise you the best effing time of your life!!! Because at the Michael Scott Paper Company we're not just a company or a family, we're a family company made up of people that aren't related. The choice is clear: choose life. Choose the Michael Scott Paper Company. Click here to begin. Sincerely, Michael Gary Scott CEO, Founder, Boss

The fact that it was sent via electronic mail is not lost on us. When you click the link, it asks you to choose a day of the week, and then begins talking about Schrutebucks... which is when we closed out the tab, because at the end of the day, "Schrutebucks" aren't gonna keep the Activia flowing in our fridge. Now, if it was a Stanley Nickel, that would be a different story altogether. However, if you like viral marketing campaigns, fictional e-mails and online time wasters, sign up! For the record... we chose "Tuesday". Fingies x'd!
Source: Best Week Ever | 27 Mar 2009 | 2:12 pm

UPDATE: T.I. Sentenced To One Year And A Day In Jail

A judge sentenced Rapper T.I. to one year and a day behind bars on federal weapons charges on Friday.

Source: Billboard.com | 27 Mar 2009 | 2:01 pm

PHOTOS: Tattooed Stars Make Their Mark

Back in the public eye, Rihanna shows off new "gun" tattoo.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 27 Mar 2009 | 1:33 pm

The Dead Trip Up Scalpers, Prep 150 Songs For Tour

The Dead are hoping that in addition to raising money for its Rex Foundation and other respective charities, an auction of prime seats for its upcoming tour will also put those tickets in the hands of fans, not scalpers.

Source: Billboard.com | 27 Mar 2009 | 1:15 pm

A schoolboy visits a Wallace and Gromit exhibition in London

A replica of a room in 62 West Wallaby Street, the home of characters Wallace and Gromit, at the Science Museum in London on March 26, 2009. The popular plasticine duo are spearheading a drive to inspire...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 27 Mar 2009 | 1:14 pm