STARTING TODAY
• Dresses by Ali Ro and eyewear by Modo are up to 70 percent off. An Ali Ro jumper is $78 (originally $226), and aviator lenses are $99 (originally $285). Through 4/17. 145 W. 18th St., nr. Seventh Ave.; W (8–8), Th, F (10–8).
• Becky Kelso jewelry is up to 65 percent off, Elise Perelman designs are $150 (originally $500), and other jewelry by Mischa, Catherine Weitzman, and more are marked down at the Lunessa jewelry sample sale. Through 4/17. 100 Thompson St., nr. Prince St. (917-305-0510); daily (11–7).
ENDING TODAY
• New spring inventory for men and women is up to 80 percent off at the Hugo Boss showroom. 601 W. 26th St., nr. Eleventh Ave., eighth fl., Ste. 845 (212-940-0800); 9–5.
STARTING TOMORROW
• Save 20 percent on new items at No. 6, get15 percent off spring vintage stock, and get deals on Built by Wendy. Wine is complimentary at this sale event. No. 6. 6 Centre Market Pl., nr. Broome St. (212-226-5759); 4–8.
• Bindya is usually sold at Anthropologie, but all scarves, tunics, clutches, and jewelry are 65 percent off at the brand's sample sale. Prices start at $10. Though 4/17. 49 W. 38th St., nr. Sixth Ave., ninth fl.; 10–5:30.
• At the Lia Kes sample sale, get tops, blouses, dresses, and more for up to 80 percent off, with prices ranging from $20 to $80. Through 4/17. 325 W. 38th St., nr. Eighth Ave., Ste. 701 (212-564-8161); 11–7.
ENDING TOMORROW
• Kooba handbags and apparel from spring and previous seasons are up to 80 percent off. 141 W. 36th St., nr. Broadway, third fl.; daily (10–8, closed 2–3).
• Paul Stuart trousers, sportcoats, shoes, accessories, and more for men and women are up to 70 percent off. 317 W. 33rd St., nr. Eighth Ave. (718-747-1656); M–W (9–6:30), Th (9–5).
Reuters - The New York Times led the pack of nominees for the Webby Awards on Tuesday with 13 nominations, and comedy Web site FunnyOrDie.com also gained attention for its gay marriage video "Prop 8: The Musical." Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 15 Apr 2009 | 12:30 pm
AP - Washington and Lee University has a missing library book back on its shelves nearly 145 years after it was stolen by a Union soldier during the Civil War.
AP - An Austrian court has convicted a woman of threatening "CSI: Miami" star David Caruso and sentenced her to seven months in jail in a secure psychiatric unit, officials said Wednesday.
AP - An Austrian court has convicted a woman of threatening "CSI: Miami" star David Caruso and sentenced her to seven months in jail in a secure psychiatric unit, officials said Wednesday.
AP - An Austrian court has convicted a woman of threatening "CSI: Miami" star David Caruso and sentenced her to seven months in jail in a secure psychiatric unit, officials said Wednesday.
After weeks of dismal scores, Steve-O was booted from the "Dancing With the Stars" ballroom Tuesday. The 34-year-old reality star and his professional partner, Lacey Schwimmer, were... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 15 Apr 2009 | 11:26 am
An Austrian court has convicted a woman of threatening "CSI: Miami" star David Caruso and sentenced her to seven months in jail in a secure psychiatric unit, officials said Wednesday. A... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 15 Apr 2009 | 11:03 am
U.S.-photographer Robert Adams won the 2009 Hasselblad Award for his modernist documentation of the American West landscape, organizers said Wednesday. Adams, 71, who does not travel... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 15 Apr 2009 | 8:08 am
Ben Folds was as surprised as anyone else that his songs were popular fodder for the repertoires of college vocal groups -- which gave him the idea for his new album, "Ben Folds Presents: University A Capella!"
In addition to working on upcoming albums by Sean "Diddy" Combs, Mary J. Blige and Toni Braxton, songwriter/producer Rodney Jerkins will appear as mentor/head judge on MTV's new reality series "Starmaker."
What do you do when you're NASA and comedian Stephen Colbert wins your contest to name the new wing for the International Space Station? You name an orbital exercise machine after him.
LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles County coroner official says an autopsy has failed to determine the cause of death for adult film star Marilyn Chambers. Los Angeles County coroner's... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 15 Apr 2009 | 7:02 am
the "Dancing With the Stars" ballroom Tuesday. The 34-year-old reality star and his professional partner, Lacey Schwimmer, were eliminated from the hit ABC show after earning the ... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 15 Apr 2009 | 6:59 am
"American Idol" tried to end on time Tuesday, implementing a format that allowed only two judges to review a singer. Host Ryan Seacrest explained: "We're working in teams tonight, so we make it in on time."
Disney movie "Monsters, Inc." characters Sally (L) and Mike celebrate the opening of the Tokyo Disneyland's new attraction "Monsters, Inc. Ride and Go Seek" at Urayasu city in Chiba prefecture. Disney... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 15 Apr 2009 | 6:38 am
Tokyo Disneyland Wednesday started up a new 100-million-dollar ride based on Walt Disney Pictures' computer animation blockbuster Monsters, Inc. produced by Pixar Animation Studios. ... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 15 Apr 2009 | 6:38 am
Due to time constraints—which caused many a peeved DVR user to miss Adam Lambert's much hailed closing number last week—American Idol's Top Seven were only subject to two...
Rascal Flatts sang. Carmen Electra sorta danced—auditioning for next season, perhaps?
And on Tuesday another celebrity was eliminated from Dancing With the Stars in an unusually...
Dancing With the Stars frontrunner Gilles Marini has a good excuse for why he didn't remember his Monday night jive routine until the 11th hour. It was the Cortisone shot!
We'll...
But though NASA's powers that be have refused to name...
You might think Jamie Foxx would have reached out to Miley Cyrus by now.
Well, he hasn't.
In fact, no one in the Cyrus camp has heard a peep from Foxx since he's...
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will come to life a bit sooner than expected.
Warner Bros. has decided to make a long weekend of it, bumping the long-awaited film's release...
Front Page: 'South Park' alum behind 'Neighbors From Hell' -- Just as its sibling Cartoon Network is expanding into the live-action space, TBS is getting animated for the first time.
Front Page: 'Twilight' actor set for Screen Gems film -- "Twilight" villain Cam Gigandet has been cast opposite Leighton Meester in Screen Gems' "The Roommate."
The controversial auction of Michael Jackson's property from his Neverland ranch has been canceled, and all of the items will be returned to Jackson, the auction organizer said.
Front Page: Actors Meloni, Hargitay still in talks to return -- "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" will be back next fall - with or without stars Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay.
Ashley Tisdale knows how to get over a cheating ex.
The HSM star told E!'s Daily 10 that the lead single off her new album entitled "It's Alright, It's OK" is about...
AP - "State of Play" looks like a provocative, '70s-style political thriller, and it's the murder of a young woman a rising congressman's mistress that drives the narrative.
We would want those shoes even if someone really annoying like Matthew McConaughey was wearing them.
The word on Twitter (no, it's not going away) is that Madonna will return as the face of Louis Vuitton for fall 2009, shot again by Steven Meisel. Meisel's lensing the Vuitton campaign for spring was a surprise, since Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott had shot the campaign for six years before that. Vuitton's director of communications has said the partnership with Meisel would probably continue. And Madge loves and respects Meisel so much that she credits him with introducing her to the art of reinvention in the latest issue of Vogue. On the one hand, the label may as well use her again, because what better way to get your ads splashed all over the entire world than to put Madge in them with her legs splayed open? But on the other hand, response to the first campaign was mixed. A lot of you, dear commenters, didn't like Madge in the campaign the first time around. Would you want to see her in Vuitton's fall 2009 bunny ears?
Since the runaway — that is, never to return — success of Play, Moby has maintained a certain respectability, becoming a strangely powerful New York nightlife fixture and releasing three follow-up albums that no one really remembers, but no one really hates, either. He’s reached the point where he's ready to do whatever he wants — like release the upcoming Wait for Me. Announced today on his website (via Stereogum), it was apparently recorded in his bedroom and full of guest spots from his random buds from Washington Heights. For the video to the actually pretty-good instrumental single “Shot in the Back of the Head,” Moby enlisted at least one friend who does not, as far as we know, live in Washington Heights — the somber, scratchy animation is courtesy of David Lynch.
Attention would-be memorabilia buyers: Beat it.
Michael Jackson has successfully managed to halt a planned auction of nearly 1,400 pieces of clothing, furniture and other items from his...
Thank GOD, we've been waiting for these shots of the Obama family romping with new family member Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog, for DAYS. And they do not disappoint. The First Puppy met the press corps today on the White House lawn, where it first dragged Malia Obama, then Michelle, and then the president of the United States all around on the grass. The First Lady attempted to get him to perform tricks, but Obama warned that there was "too much pressure." "He's a star!" crowed the president. "He's got star quality!" Man, are these people good at a photo op or what?
Suzy Menkes: "'Coco avant Chanel' is a pleasant gallop through the well-known story and [Audrey] Tautou turns in a star performance of moods from truculence to the delirium of love. Yet you can’t help feeling that the most interesting thing about Mademoiselle was her personal vision and the way that her steely elegance was reflected in her taste and style. But the inner workings of a creative mind do not make such a pretty film as pastoral parties and ladies in inflated hats." [NYT]
"I just love great journalism, where the writer really captures the essence," Brett Ratner tells Movieline today. "There are very few people out there doing this kind of work now. I think Scott Foundas is one of those guys." Hmmm. Scott Foundas, the same L.A. Weekly writer who threw collective wisdom to the wind and actually typed this sentence in a 2007 profile: "Brett Ratner is a talented filmmaker who deserves to be taken seriously"? Yes, that Scott Foundas. [Movieline]
But it's online-only. Meanwhile, the ax came down at several traditional media companies.
Pumpsmag.com, a digital magazine that promises to "draw the curtain of exclusivity off the billion dollar Gentlemen's Club industry," has launched. [Via UrbanDaddy]
• Reed Business Information, Variety's parent company, is laying off 7 percent of its total staff. Variety's executive editor, Michael Speier, was among those laid off, and more exits are expected. [Wrap]
• Brian Tierney, the CEO of Philadelphia Newspapers, which owns the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News and recently declared bankruptcy, tussled in court today with lenders who say he paid himself a $350,000 bonus, on top of his $518,000 salary, while the company was going bankrupt. [AP]
• The Boston Globe has appointed Globe Magazine’s Doug Most as the paper’s deputy managing features editor. This means the Globe expects to survive! [Dont' Quote Me/Boston Phoenix]
With top New York Democrats reportedly giving David Paterson a deadline of November to turn around his abysmal poll numbers, the governor appears to be getting the message. Paterson this weekend hosted a secret gathering of friends and advisers in what was described as a "Save the Governor" retreat. Details about the meeting are still coming in, but sources say the aim was to map out a comeback strategy. It was a "frank discussion with a smart group of experienced people," says one source familiar with the meeting. The powwow comes as lawmakers and other political insiders are raising questions about Paterson's political viability (his approval ratings took big hits over his bumbling Senate-replacement process and the way he's handled the state budget). While Paterson has insisted he's running for office next year, Democrats are increasingly nervous about whether he can pull off a victory. The latest polls have Rudy Giuliani, a possible GOP contender, beating Paterson in a landslide. Some are privately suggesting that Paterson step aside for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, whose approval rating is about three times the size of Paterson's.
MAKEUP
• A North Carolina representative introduced a bill to state legislature to form a committee called the North Carolina Agency to Regulate Beauty Pageants for Girls Under Thirteen. If the bill passes, the committee would study the psychological effects of pageant life and possibly impose regulations, like "no false eyelashes on girls under five." [Jezebel]
• Vanessa Hudgens tells the new Self magazine, "Sometimes I feel prettier without makeup. You take it off and you're like, 'Oh, there I am!'" [StyleWatch/People]
• Arlenis Sosa is the new face for Lancôme's Laque Fever. So look for her face at a Lancôme counters near you. [Lancome Blog]
• Kelly Rutherford, of Gossip Girl fame, helped Origins kick off its recycling program. Oh yes. Is our favorite holiday, Earth Day, here yet?! [WWD]
HAIR
• Ear cuffies protect ears from straightening irons. Or you could just not straighten your hair while under the influence. [Beauty Department/Glamour]
John Slattery is putting himself up for auction later this month for charity. So when we ran into him at the Our Time Theatre Company event honoring Howard Bingham, we asked him what the strangest thing he has ever bid on was. "A time-share for a house in France," he confessed. His wife, Talia Balsam, however, was more cautious. "Maybe some cosmetics. I’ve never kissed anyone or anything." View our Party Lines slideshow for more charitable admissions and denials.
DAUGHTEROFABITCH: Lost'sJosh Holloway welcomed a new baby girl, and immediately yelled at the kid "So what are we supposed to do now, Cordless?" (Us Weekly)
THE BILLS: Spencer Pratt eventually wants to run for Governor of California, which is completely...partially ridiculous. (Celebitchy)
SO-CRATES JOHNSON: Philosophy just doesn't get any deeper than Terence Howard's "Life is a Go-Kart" metaphor. Sometimes, you just get nailed with a spiked shell and there's nothing you can do about it. (Film Drunk)
SHOW ME THE FUNNY: Untopical Man On The Street is even funnier than Eddie from Frasier biting Elian Gonzalez. (The Apiary)
POOTIE TANG SNUBBED AGAIN: TCM released their list of the 15 Most Influential Classic Movies, and they've really gone to tremendous lengths to unearth some lesser-known gems like The Starring Wars and -- one sec, double checking the title on this one -- Citizen Kane (??) (/Film)
BEARD SCIENCE: And finally, gear up for the NHL Playoffs with what is no doubt the most comprehensive Playoff Beard Preview on the internet. Yep - even more comprehensive than the one on Beards.ca. (Empty Netters)
"I WAS WORKING ON THIS DOPE ASS SONG WITH JARED AND BRANDON STOPPED BY." Wow. Does this mean that Jared Leto stopped by Kanye West's recording studio and then, by coincidence, Brandon Flowers just so happened to stop by as well? Does this mean that Kanye West is actually collaborating with Jared Leto? Does this mean that the three of them are friends in real life? The mind boggles. [Kanye UniverseCity via Idolator]
After reading some not-so-stellar critiques of Topshop, we had to bite the bullet and see for ourselves. The opening was one thing, but the stock is ever changing, with items selling out rapidly and new merch quickly hitting the floor. So we braved the crowds on various days — yes, there was a line but if you go during the day it's not so bad — to see what everyone was grumbling about. Most of the Cut have been to the London locations numerous times and are big fans: Can the New York flagship hold up to Oxford Circus?
Upon first entering, we have to admit we were overwhelmed by the décor. Color, hanging flowers, loud music — everything comes at you from all sides. It's a bit distracting, but if you can ignore it and focus on the clothes, you'll find some really great pieces to add to your wardrobe. There were at least four tops and a few dresses we wanted on the first floor alone. The second floor was easier on the eyes — though just as crowded as downstairs. We suggest skipping the designer "Boutique" section unless you're looking for one-off items you won't wear more than once. The third-floor basics and bathing suits we'll be hitting up again, especially as the weather heats up.
The accessories are by far the biggest letdown. We love the jewelry — we'd absolutely wear the bracelets and necklaces. Much cooler and better quality than H&M's, with tons of styles and trends to choose from on all floors. But the bag selection is smaller than what Oxford has — and that was one of our favorite things to buy at Topshop. The shoes are all too "designer inspired" for our liking.
We'd buy that blazer!Photo: Courtesy of Topshop
For all the complaints we've heard — things are too trendy or even "tacky" — we suggest approaching the clothes with a keen eye for editing. You can't pull an outfit ready to go; rather, find a shirt here and there and mix it in with what you own. The prices might be a bit higher than H&M's, but so is the style and the quality. (Most of our Topshop apparel has lasted years.) Perhaps the store is a victim of overhyping, but it's still a good, fun, and relatively inexpensive place to find cute and trendy clothes for the season. And who wants to spend a fortune on anything right now?
Front Page: Layoffs affect all publications, Variety -- Reed Business Information CEO Tad Smith Tuesday announced "the very painful step" of a 7% layoff of employees across the board, which affected all publications, including Variety.
Variety reports today that HBO has optioned Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime, the forthcoming book on the 2008 presidential election from Mark Halperin and New York's own John Heilemann. Screenwriter Charles Leavitt (Blood Diamond), who'll adapt the book, tells Variety: "To me, the primary was one of the greatest title fights of the century ... I think it will present itself almost like a stage play, like Frost/Nixon or The Queen," seemingly implying that the movie might focus mostly on one particular relationship, presumably the one between Obama and Hillary. Heilemann tells us, "There's been some confusion in some of the coverage, with the book being called a novel. It's pure non-fiction — scrupulously, rigorously reported and fact-checked nonfiction." [Variety]
Yes, we'll admit that Brittany Murphy's movies aren't going to win any Oscars... remember Little Black Book and Just Married? But on this week's Lifetime original movie Nora Robert's Tribute, we felt as though this old man took his opinion of Brittany Murphy's film career a little too far:
In true Blago form, impeached former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich pleaded not guilty to sixteen federal charges, including those regarding his alleged efforts to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat. When asked about his legal strategy, Blago summed it up in two words: "the truth!" It's a mantra he's repeated over and over since January, but we have yet to see it work for him. He also attempted to quote Theodore Roosevelt, saying: “Black care never catches a rider whose pace is fast enough. You got that?” The actual quote is: "Black care rarely sits behind a rider whose pace is fast enough," meaning that clouds of sorrow and self-doubt never linger over someone who keeps moving forward. Seeing as Blago's not going anywhere — certainly not forward — anytime soon, we're a little confused (as always) by what he meant.
Video nominees for the 13th annual Webby awards, which honor excellence on the Internet, have a decidedly political flavor -- reflecting a year dominated by a historic presidential election.
Outside of the Hatfields and the McCoys (and possibly the Duffs and the Lohans), there is no relationship more contentious than that of Jay Leno and David Letterman. Unless you've been stranded on an island somewhere in the South Pacific under the employ of the Dharma Initiative since 1992, you'll surely know that the bad blood began when Leno outwitted Letterman by stealthily maneuvering himself into position to succeed Johnny Carson as the host of NBC's famed Tonight Show franchise, a stunning move that was captured in the 1996 made-for-HBO film The Late Shift. While no one would expect that either of them would ever forget the incident, let alone become best buddies, one might expect that after 16 plus years the two would find a suitable occasion over which to break bread. Well, if you believe what Jay Leno tells GQ this month, there was recent occasion where he tried to make peace with Letterman, but Dave wasn't havin' it.
GQ: I heard that you wrote Dave a letter, after he had his open-heart surgery. Leno: Mmm-hmm. GQ: What was in the letter? Leno: Oh, just how funny I thought he was and how I owed him a lot. How important he was to me and all that. GQ: Did he respond? Leno: Uh, no. GQ: Really? Leno: But that's okay. Where'd you hear that? GQ: That's not okay. Leno: Well, it's not okay, but fine. What do you do, you know? I don't know if he ever got it. GQ: It's weirdly heartless. Leno: I don't know if he ever got it. He might not ever have gotten it. A middling might've said, "I don't want to show this to Dave. It'll upset him," and thrown it away, so I don't know. Ever talk to Dave? GQ: Ah, no. Leno: Dave's a great guy. GQ: Your relationship is a movie. Leno: Well, it was a bad movie. That stupid Late Shift movie. GQ: Do you think you two will ever come around? Leno: I hope so!
Harsh! According to Leno, though, Dave's ongoing hatred for him isn't so great that he wouldn't take advantage of their famed rivalry for ratings gain. Once again, if you believe what Jay Leno says in the interview (which, personally, we're only mildly inclined to), the booking people for Letterman tried to get Jay to appear on The Late Show the night that Conan debuts as host of the Tonight Show. Scandalous!
What do you think, VultureWatchers? Is Leno full of baloney? Would Dave really invite Jay onto his show? Should they bury the hatchet or keep their feud going? You know where to sound off.
Front Page: Thesps will announce kudo contenders May 5 -- Cynthia Nixon and Lin-Manuel Miranda are set to announce the nominations for the 2009 Tony Awards May 5.
Vogue put up a behind-the-scenes video of its May cover shoot, which was super-exciting because they used models instead of celebrities. Except that when they first put up the video, they misidentified Anna Jagodzinska and labeled her Natasha Poly. Mistakes happen — and Vogue has since fixed the error — but what does it say about the fashion and modeling industries if even Vogue staffers have trouble telling two of its biggest stars apart? [Jezebel]
Bravo is about to unveil a new show to advertisers concocted to fill the void left by Project Runway. What's that? You thought they already took care of that with their new program The Fashion Show, judged by Fern Mallis and Isaac Mizrahi, in which designers compete to have their clothes sold at retail, as chosen by viewers? Wrong! The new show is called Launch My Line and Reuters describes it thusly:
Originally titled "Celebrity Sew Off," the series features a group of famous faces vying to launch their own clothing line. Each contestant will be paired with a fashion design expert who will help realize the celebrity's creative vision.
So Bravo's fashion-competition reality shows are spawning. And just like the Real Housewives series, it isn't pretty. The New York Housewives were fine and well, but then came the highly questionable Atlanta Housewives. And now Bravo is threatening to unleash the Real Housewives of New Jersey on us. And we fear this blog post isn't powerful enough to stop it. But the point is, we have worked diligently to disavow celebrity clothing lines. And now Bravo is not only giving them a stage, but business advice, with the very scary possibility that the only celebrities they'll be able to cast will be of Bret Michaels quality. And his style is not okay.
That said, we would totally watch if they could wrestle New York away from her VH1 contract.
As you can see from the above image snapped by Curbed, builders are laying stone and pavement into the area around Washington Square Park's newly positioned and freshly refurbished fountain. Instead of the many curved walls around the fountain, which held up planters and turf, there will be granite benches facing the fountain. The belief is that this kind of heightened visibility in the area will cut down on the kind of drug deals and abuse for which the park used to be notorious. According to Curbed, at a Landmarks Commission meeting yesterday there was "much discussion over circular seating alcoves and various 'undesirable' activities that reportedly take place in the park's nooks and crannies." What do you guys think? Is the nice, open new layout going to change what goes on in lovely Washington Square Park?
Jane Alexander is, at 69, perhaps the oldest person ever to simulate oral sex onscreen (in HBO's, Tell Me You Love Me). She's back on the New York stage in Primary Stages' Chasing
Manet, a nursing-home caper that opened last week. Alexander spoke to Vulture about napping on the set, why she was never drawn to The Golden Girls, and how it feels to break into action flicks as a near septuagenarian.
In Chasing Manet you play a famous modernist Boston painter. Are you from fancy Boston stock?
Oh, no. In fact, my mother was a Boston Southie and my dad was from North Platt, Nebraska. My character, Catherine Sargent, is from the old-world Bostonians — she married a Lowell. It's clear she has a gusto for life and she's rather egocentric, but she's a survivor and she's wants to live life to the fullest.
Did you have experiences with your own parents aging?
My father, Bart Quigley, was a very well-known surgeon in Boston, a doctor for the Harvard football team. He had a massive stroke. To make a long story short, a lot of doctors are not good patients. He was in seventeen nursing homes in the course of three years. I got a call from the woman who ran one of them, who said, "Come get your father today. He rang the night bell 72 times." A lot of my character's feistiness and mischievousness is totally relatable to my dad.
You're sleeping in bed for the first few minutes of the play. Is that relaxing?
I can't really go to sleep, because I have to listen for my cue. But I found it a delightful rehearsal process because I was in bed most of the time. And it's an extremely comfortable bed. [Co-star] Lynn Cohen and I are of a certain age that we like to take a nap, so in between matinees and evening shows, we crawl into our beds onstage and go to sleep. We have a fabulous stage manager who announces, "Quiet time!"
Do you snore loudly like your character does?
I'm not a snorer. And it's not an easy thing to do [onstage]. It requires a lot of breath.
It's hard not to watch these wacky old gals and not think of The Golden Girls from time to time. Did that inform your process?
Um — no. I certainly do know what The Golden Girls was, and I highly respect those actresses, but I never was a person who gravitated toward sitcoms.
So you had to simulate a few sex scenes on HBO's Tell Me You Love Me last year in your role as the sex therapist, May. What was that like?
Well, one has personal experience, I'm sure. But let's make everything clear. Our union, SAG, does not allow us to have real sex.
So in the scene where you give your husband oral sex, how did you — did you just go down and — ?
I don't remember how we shot it. They were always so careful and they'd clear the set of all but a handful of the crew. David Selby [who played her husband] and I are very, very old friends going back to the early seventies, and we both have personally long marriages, so it was just — actors are good at this stuff!
What sex scene do you remember the most?
It's always — those scenes for everybody are always more difficult than your normal scene. Okay, I think that's enough about Tell Me You Love Me.
So you're in Terminator: Salvation, opening Memorial Day weekend.
This is my first action movie, and I love every minute of it. I have a wonderful role, named Virginia. I wish I could tell you more about who I am, but I had to sign a confidentiality agreement. And I'm a trading card, too! I said, "Oh my God, I have to be the oldest female-action-figure trading card." And it's a very odd child who will ask for my card.
Michelle Obama addressed the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C., wearing a bright-green top. Check her out in our ever-expanding Michelle Obama Look Book.
One of the great sights of New York at night is the illuminated specter of the decaying Smallpox Hospital at the foot of Roosevelt Island. You catch a glimpse of it as you pass by on the FDR, and you wonder how a ruin like that could continue to exist in the heart of such a modern, growing metropolis. Of course, the city has actually taken great care to make sure the ruin remains standing (and safe), which we have always thought is very cool. Today the Times' City Room blog takes a video tour of the interior of the building, which is currently being reinforced by a steel framework that will hopefully keep it together after a 2007 collapse of the northern wall. Andy Stone, the NYC director of the Trust for Public Land, says he even envisions the public using the building once it's stabilized. "This space here could be a fantastic site for performances and for a seasonal café," he observes. There's even a rendering of what it could be like if the whole tip of the island became a usable public park.
Designer Tim Hamilton debuted his first women’s collection for fall 2009, showcasing a mix of romantic gothic blouses and structured gowns in all black. A striking contrast to his acclaimed men’s line (nominated for CFDA awards in 2007 and 2008), which consistently shows almost preppy, American-sportswear-inspired basics. We caught up with Tim after his women’s collection debuted in Paris to chat with him about the differences between New York and Paris as well as his upcoming shoe line.
You always show men’s in New York. Why Paris for the women's?
My mother traveled a lot, so this was another way to incorporate her influence in the collection. I really wanted to capture the feeling of a small gallery gathering in Paris. Nonetheless, most of those in the audience were from New York, anyway.
How do New York and Paris differ in terms of fashion and style?
I would say Paris can be more opulent than New York in terms of fashion and style. The light in Paris seems different to me, so fashion stands out more in a natural way. New York is more straight to the point. You can sort of identify right away what someone does by how they are dressed. But in Paris you would never know, because it seems that all walks of life appreciate fashion.
A look from fall 2009.Photo: Courtesy of Tim Hamilton
Should we be expecting shoes by Tim Hamilton in the near future?
Yes! Since spring 09, I’ve been designing my own shoes for the show so I can create an entire “Tim Hamilton” look. We just have to find a way to make them relate in terms of cost. As of right now, they’re handmade in Italy and each shoe takes a couple of days’ work.
What was the first designer item you bought?
Oh boy. Do I have to tell? I think I ordered some Junior Gaultier jeans and had a Dries Van Noten vest as a kid. I also loved vintage clothes.
What labels, other than your own, do you wear most?
My look is pretty basic and I wear a lot of black. Lots of Margiela, namely my favorite black pants. I have simple dress shirts that range from Muji to Ann Demeulemeester. I wear my own boots almost every day.
Where do you shop?
I love IF on Grand Street and I like popping my head into Seven NY and Atelier. I never have time to go uptown.
What trends are you into right now?
I prefer “anti-trends” — that is to say someone who is wearing something entirely unique or styling their clothes in a way that I’ve never seen. I like when I see people play with shape and volume.
Any trends you wish would disappear?
The word, actually.
What’s something every man should have in his closet? Every woman?
Every man needs a pair of black pants. I think all women need a modern-cut black dress.
Finish this sentence: I never leave the house without …
A 50-task “to do” list.
The following clip of Barack Obama reading Where the Wild Things Are to a group of children reminds us once again how difficult it is for a president to slip out of his go-to "President Voice" after three intense years of campaigning and presidenting. It works though -- I was so motivated by his description of the Wild Things and where they are, I immediately bought $50,000 worth of Liberty Bonds and signed up for the Navy.
Reading starts around 1:35:
Front Page: Kerner to offer stereo technology for viewers -- The seeds of the nation's first 3-D broadcast network have been planted, repping a small step for television, but a giant leap for 3-D.
Porn icon Marilyn Chambers was found dead in her Los Angeles home Sunday night, but investigators do not suspect foul play, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman.
"He said, ‘There’s one way that you can really fuck this all up. Just do heroin. If you steer clear of that — the other obstacles you’ll be able to navigate.’ And that makes sense, dude." —Zac Efron on the words of wisdom that Leonardo DiCaprio passed along to him at a recent Lakers game [GQ via Movieline]
"Make a sex tape and grow up. Get like Britney Spears and do some heroin. Do like Lindsay Lohan … and get some crack in your pipe … That's what I want." —Jamie Foxx's advice to Miley Cyrus, proving that he's no Leonardo DiCaprio [People]
"Dear Neil and Chris. You have many loyal fans of the Pet Shop Boys here at PETA. We have a request that may at first seem bizarre, but we hope that after considering the following facts, you will understand why we are asking this of you: will you please consider changing your name from the Pet Shop Boys to the Rescue Shelter Boys?" —PETA Europe wants an act of charity from the Pet Shop Boys [Guardian UK]
"Like the cancer that is that Darjeeling guy … what’s his name? His completely cancerous approach to using music is basically, 'Here’s my iPod on shuffle, and here’s my movie.' The two are just thrown together. People are constantly contacting me saying, 'I’ve been editing my movie, and I’ve been using your song in the editing process. What would it take to license the song?' And for me it’s like, ‘Regardless of what you’ve been doing, my song doesn’t belong in your movie.'" —Will Oldham on Wes Anderson and the art of writing music for movies [AV Club]
"I auditioned for the last Coen Brothers movie, and I read for one of the parts, and that's as close as I've gotten. I tanked on the audition. I was awful. But before I stopped acting, I auditioned for The Big Lebowski — the Tara Reid part … Yeah, Bunny! At the time, I remember reading the script and crying with laughter. I still have the script — I saved it." —Jenny Lewis on what could have been [MetroMix]
"Claims have been made that I've been on a strict workout routine regulated by co-stars, whipped into shape by trainers I've never met, eating sprouted grains I can't pronounce and ultimately losing 14 pounds off my 5'3" frame. I'm a petite person to begin with, so the idea of my losing this amount of weight is utter lunacy. If I were to lose 14 pounds, I'd have to part with both arms. And a foot." —Scarlett Johansson is not on an Iron Man diet [Guardian UK]
We've harshed on Blake Lively in the past, but it's mostly only because we're jealous of her being with Penn Badgley. Plus, the following quote from her in the upcoming issue of Allure made us kind of feel for her. It's tough to be in Blake Lively's shoes! Especially since apparently they are a size 16 which she needs to order from a special Ginormica catalogue for giant transvestites:
"I feel like a tranny a lot of the time. I don't know, I'm ... large? They put me in six-inch heels, and I tower over every man. I've got this long hair and lots of clothes and makeup on ... I just feel really big a lot of the time, and I'm surrounded by a lot of tiny people. I feel like a man sometimes."
On the other hand, she also has the boobs of a giantess, so we don't feel that bad for her.
You know that jacket. The one that opened the spring 2009 Balmain show and sent drool gushing down your chin. Beyoncé hath traded her Pugh for it. We are so jealous. But if you're rolling in it and want one, you can buy it on Net-A-Porter for $11,410! [Jezebel]
Looking to upgrade your collection of Criterion DVDs to Blu-Ray but afraid to shell out $40 plus for brand-new copies? Fear not! If you mail $20 and your old DVD back to Criterion, they'll send you a Blu-Ray copy, just like that! [Criterion via /Film]
The following story from Lil' Wayne'sPlayboy interview about losing his virginity is just too sublime not to simply reprint so we can all bask in its mind-exploding hormonal glory.
If Nick Jr. ever adds a Letters to Penthouse segment...
I was 11 and the girl was 13. She had every board game you could imagine. I liked board games. We was playing Win Lose or Draw and on the board she wrote, "F*ck me." Now I was 11, and I didn't even know it meant "intercourse." I just knew it was a cuss word, so I was like, "Why is she cussing herself out?" She said, "Do you want to play 'Press Your Luck'? Well, the game is in my closet." She had a walk-in closet, so she said, "Go get it, it's right to the right…." When I walk to the closet she came in and cut the lights off and took off my pants, and I remember my ass was cold up against the wall. I was like, "What the hell!?" When I tried to push her off me, I felt that she was naked also, so I just stepped back and let her do what she do.
The story hits really close to home for me personally, cause I actually lost my virginity when I was seven and playing Candyland, and the girl (nine) was like "How would you like to come over here and get stuck in MY gooey gumdrops?" and I was like "ummmm, no, obviously - I don't want to have to wait until I draw a yellow card to move again. What a stupid question." Then I drew Plumpy and got really mad and when my concentration was thrown for a split second she took my pants off and had sex with me. At least I can laugh about it now.
(via Dlisted) Source: Best Week Ever | 14 Apr 2009 | 7:10 pm
David Shuster, emboldened by the cable news fun over "tea bagging," made a joke last night about said tea parties and former Republican House majority leader Dick Armey that proved he did not learn the lesson he was supposed to from the Chelsea Clinton "pimping" scandal. Bless him. [Wonk Room/Think Progress]
It's long since been established that Hollywood no longer possesses the higher brain functions necessary to create anything even remotely resembling an original idea. However, what Hollywood lacks in original ideas, they more than make up for with brilliant strategies for getting the American public to pay up for the same material over and over again. Whereas that used to just equate to churning out sequels, the brain trust that runs the Left Coast has recently stumbled onto the fact that moviegoers will show up in droves if they are able to reunite entire casts for their creatively redundant projects (see: the recent $70.9 million opening weekend for Fast & Furious). However, we're hopeful that this recent "Aha!" moment won't just mean that the likes of Elijah Wood and Tea Leoni will soon team up again for Deep Impact 2: Even Deeper, but that we'll actually be privileged enough to see fascinating casts get back together onscreen after a substantial number of years apart. In fact, that idea seems to be the very genesis of Bret Easton Ellis's new novel Imperial Bedrooms, a sequel to Less Than Zero that's due in May 2010.
On the rare chance that none of you remember the seminal 1987 film, it starred Robert Downey Jr., James Spader, Andrew McCarthy, and Jami Gertz as a bunch of drug-addicted burgeoning yuppies living their twisted lives in the Hollywood Hills. And according to B.E.E., its sequel is set in the present day and will revolve not only around how this crew of ne'er-do-wells survived the eighties, but what they're up to today:
"I first thought [they’d be dead] when I started thinking about it; when I began to outline the book and figure out who’s going to be around and who’s not – some of the main people are going to be okay,” Easton Ellis laughed. “There was some supporting cast that I realized was expendable – you knew something bad was going to happen to them. But the leads? Yeah, they kind of stuck around."
Although it's been a while since we've seen Jami Gertz appear in anything noteworthy, the prospect of seeing that triumvirate of still-potent male eighties acting icons teaming up again is enough to make us forgive Universal for reigniting the star power of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. And while they're at it, we think that whoever is genius enough to pick up the rights for this film should go right ahead and reunite the Bangles, too; after all, their cover of "Hazy Shade of Winter" that appeared on the Less Than Zero soundtrack contains one of our favorite guitar licks of all time (bless you, Vicki Peterson!). Let's make this happen, people!
Last night, Senator John McCain stopped by the desk of Jay Leno, as politicians tend to do from time to time when they hanker for some friendly, risk-free media exposure. But this visit didn't end up being so benign. When Leno asked McCain who was going to lead the Republican Party, McCain began ticking off a list of "young, dynamic" governors, including Bobby Jindal, Tim Pawlenty, Jon Hunstman, Charlie Crist, and former governor Mitt Romney. "I've left out somebody's name and I'm going to hear about it," he added with a laugh. Yes, you have, and you will! Maybe the name Sarah Palin rings a bell? Former running mate, current real-life soap-opera star, and occasional governor of Alaska? Anything? No?
There are two possibilities for not mentioning her here: One is that McCain actually holds so little regard for the person he was ostensibly ready to entrust with the entire nation a few months ago that he doesn't even see her as a potential party leader. Or, his time with her was so emotionally jarring and so unpleasant that he's repressed his memory of her entirely, and is now blissfully unaware of her existence. Hmmm. Actually, could it be both?
Front Page: Actor to star opposite Julia Roberts -- Richard Jenkins has signed to star opposite Julia Roberts in "Eat, Pray, Love" for Columbia Pictures.
Front Page: Andy Fickman directing Disney comedy -- Kristen Bell has been cast as the lead in Disney's comedy "You Again," to be helmed by Andy Fickman.
Fast and Furious -- the fourth installment of the "F&F" franchise disguised by a shorter name -- has already racked up $116 million at the box office in just two weeks of release, leading us to wonder: Is this going to start a trend of other movies cutting their names short hoping to strike convenient-title box office gold? Let's take a hypothetical look at where movie titles might be headed:
Male singers regularly photographed wearing a hat are usually covering up a receding hairline. Not Jason Aldean -- he's doing it to signal his commitment to country music. He's also conscious of what people pay to see him.
On Sunday's Amazing Race the contestants were in Bangkok, Thailand and while most of the teams opted to perform the karaoke challenge with some Thai lady men, the mother/son team of Margie and Luke had to take option 2. The challenge was billed as a part of everyday life in Bangkok, but as you'll see from this clip... everyday life in Bangkok is gross.
Will the man behind "Passion of the Christ" be able to remain director of the church he spent $5.1 million building? Source: FOXNews.com | 14 Apr 2009 | 4:21 pm
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero speaks during a press conference on April 7, 2009. Zapatero said that his government will "drastically reduce" the amount of advertising allowed on the... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 14 Apr 2009 | 4:18 pm
A group plays 1,300-year-old Tang Dynasty music on April 1, 2009 in a pagoda in Xi'an, once known as Chang'an, the grand capital of China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), widely regarded as a high point... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 14 Apr 2009 | 4:15 pm
Li Kai (C) leads a group playing 1,300-year-old Tang Dynasty music on April 1, 2009 in a pagoda in Xi'an, once known as Chang'an, the grand capital of China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), widely regarded... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 14 Apr 2009 | 4:15 pm
Li Kai (C) leads a group playing 1,300-year-old Tang Dynasty music on April 1, 2009 in a pagoda in Xi'an, once known as Chang'an, the grand capital of China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), widely regarded... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 14 Apr 2009 | 4:15 pm
A man looks at a nude painting exhibition in downtown Hanoi in 2003, presenting individual works from Vietnamese painter Doan Hong, 43. Authorities in conservative Vietnam have refused to allow an exhibition... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 14 Apr 2009 | 4:04 pm
A man works on the renovation of a section of the Berlin Wall at the so-called East Side Gallery in Berlin. Restoration work began on murals painted on the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall,... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 14 Apr 2009 | 4:03 pm
Artists Anne (L) and Gerhard Lahr paint a remaining section of the Berlin Wall at the so-called East Side Gallery in Berlin. Restoration work began on murals painted on the longest remaining stretch of... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 14 Apr 2009 | 4:03 pm
Celebrity Appearing on Funny or Die: Concious attempt by unliked celebrity to become likable through self-deprecation.
Celebrity Appearing on Sesame Street: Already likable celebrity just continuing to be likable:
From "Molly's Chambers" to "Sex on Fire," hear the Southern
brothers' best songs
Kings of
Leon started out as preacher's sons forbidden to listen to
anything but church music and turned into the new gods of dirty
Southern rock & roll. Austin Scaggs traveled around the world
with the band of brothers for Rolling Stone's new cover
story, on newsstands now. Here's a guide to the hard-rocking,
hard-living Followills' best tracks — click here to listen
along:
AP - We're just a couple of weeks into the baseball season, and most fans are still enjoying that flush of springtime optimism, hoping their team will make it to the playoffs. Unless you live in my town, Washington, where the Nationals are already looking worse than the 2008 squad that stumbled to 102 losses.
Best Week Ever with Paul F. Tompkins returned Friday, but if you missed it, check out the full episode here, including special guest Martin Starr from the new movie Adventureland .
Part One:
Due to time constraints—which caused many a peeved DVR user to miss Adam Lambert's much hailed closing number last week—American Idol's Top Seven were only subject to two...
Rascal Flatts sang. Carmen Electra sorta danced—auditioning for next season, perhaps?
And on Tuesday another celebrity was eliminated from Dancing With the Stars in an unusually...
Dancing With the Stars frontrunner Gilles Marini has a good excuse for why he didn't remember his Monday night jive routine until the 11th hour. It was the Cortisone shot!
We'll...
You might think Jamie Foxx would have reached out to Miley Cyrus by now.
Well, he hasn't.
In fact, no one in the Cyrus camp has heard a peep from Foxx since he's...
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will come to life a bit sooner than expected.
Warner Bros. has decided to make a long weekend of it, bumping the long-awaited film's release...
Ashley Tisdale knows how to get over a cheating ex.
The HSM star told E!'s Daily 10 that the lead single off her new album entitled "It's Alright, It's OK" is about...
Attention would-be memorabilia buyers: Beat it.
Michael Jackson has successfully managed to halt a planned auction of nearly 1,400 pieces of clothing, furniture and other items from his...
The following story from Lil' Wayne's 
