Conference Call May 8, 2009 at 8:30 AM EDT NEW YORK, April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Scientific Games (Nasdaq: SGMS) plans to release financial results for the... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 24 Apr 2009 | 12:30 pm
Reuters - Jay Leno checked into a Los Angeles hospital on Thursday with an undisclosed illness, forcing the comedian to cancel a taping of "The Tonight Show" for the first time in his 17-year tenure.
'There will never be another Danity Kane unless it's these girls here,' Diddy promises.By Jocelyn Vena Day26 at the finale of "Making the Band 4" on Thursday Photo: Charles Eshelman/ Getty Images... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 24 Apr 2009 | 12:25 pm
(Reuters) Reuters - Marking Woody Allen's first New York City-shot film in five years, "Whatever Works," falls somewhere between his lesser London efforts "Scoop" and "Cassandra's Dream" and his return to form with "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 24 Apr 2009 | 6:24 am
Reuters - Alan Ayckbourn's early-1970s trilogy "The Norman Conquests" has been acclaimed for the genius of its elaborately conceived structure, with the plays fitting into one another like the pieces of a Swiss watch. But the revelation of this Broadway revival, imported after an acclaimed run at London's Old Vic Theater, is how deeply moving -- as well as uproariously funny -- these comedies of manners are. Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 24 Apr 2009 | 6:19 am
Comedian Dane Cook took a somber tone and described a sense of "terrible betrayal" in discussing the recent arrest of his half brother, who is accused of embezzling millions from him.
AP - The first rule of "Fight Club," if you recall, was that you don't talk about "Fight Club." The first rule of "Fighting," it seems, is that you talk only to fill the gaps between all the fighting.
Reuters - BET Networks on Thursday took the wraps off a new basic-cable channel designed to attract an older, more affluent segment of the black television audience. Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 24 Apr 2009 | 4:04 am
AP - Jay Leno checked into a hospital with an undisclosed illness Thursday and canceled the taping of the "Tonight" show, but was doing well and planned to return next week, his publicist and NBC said.
This isn't the type of headline that floats Jay Leno's boat.
The Tonight Show host canceled Thursday's taping of the NBC late-night staple—a rarity—after he felt...
Now where have we seen extraordinarily sinewy people practicing capoeira before?
Tonight's reward on Survivor: Tocantins was a day trip for Erinn Lobdell, J.T. Thomas, Debbie Beebe...
Front Page: Actor may star in Tony Scott-directed thriller -- Denzel Washington is negotiating to star in drama "Unstoppable," the Tony Scott-directed that 20th Century Fox has on track for a fall production start.
Front Page: Director plans pair of pics -- Robert Rodriguez is ready to cut a wide swathe, and his plans include re-launching the "Predator" franchise for Fox and co-directing "Machete."
For an upcoming episode of the popular Discovery Channel series Man vs. Wild, Grylls invited...
Geek buzz flying around the internet suggests that "Star Trek" could be one of the summer's biggest movies. Director J.J. Abrams' reinvention of the cult sci-fi franchise doesn't open across the world until May, but early reviews after London's premiere are excellent.
Whose video would you rather watch: the Crystal Method’s featuring Matisyahu, or Dizzee Rascal’s featuring Armand Van Helden? (You are not allowed to say “neither.” Stop it … stop saying that.) Maybe it’s because we’re not British, Hasidic, blunted, or rolling, but for us, this defines “brainteaser.” However, listening to these marginal rappers collaborating with these marginal dance groups — on “Drown in the Now” and “Bonkers,” respectively — we’ve found our head moving in a slow, rhythmic back-and-forth motion. And upon reflection, we’ve decided that “Drown in the Now” is the sweeter song, but “Bonkers” has the cooler video. Break our tie, won’t you?
If Arthur's case goes forward as a class action, Vuitton could have to fork over $12 million. But fear not for their piggy bank — they can easily pay for that with winnings from past trademark-infringement cases. They won $30.5 million alone in a landmark lawsuit against eBay last year.
Front Page: Seats contentious in WMA/Endeavor merger -- As the WMA-Endeavor merger discussions get down to a vote by the leaders of each agency, the construct of the combined agency's board is causing tension, particularly among existing WMA board members.
The Swedes sure do — (the hopefully now sane) Hill will headline the Stockholm Jazz Festival in July, part of her ten-date European summer tour. We see no way any part of that could possibly go wrong. [Billboard]
Jay Leno's hospitalization and the subsequent cancellation of today's Tonight Show isn't the only bad news in media today.
• To cut costs, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security told its employees to cancel subscriptions to some newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Time. According to the AP, "The department says employees will still have access to news because most publications can be found online." Doesn't that say it all? [AP via FishbowlNY/Mediabistro]
• The McClatchy Company, which publishes the Miami Herald, among other titles, reported a $37 million, or 45 cents per share, loss in the first quarter. [Yahoo]
• Scientific American editor-in-chief John Rennie is out, along with six other magazine employees, amid a restructuring of the title's operations. [Mixed Media/Portfolio]
• The New York Times Company is sticking to its May 1 deadline for that $20 million in concessions it's looking to collect from unions at the Boston Globe. Without the concessions, the Globe may be shuttered. [Boston Globe]
Rick Ross may have the No. 1 album in the country, but he's clearly having a hard time attracting fans to his in-store signing at the Best Buy on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Music critic Yancey Strickler has been documenting the total lack of fan enthusiasm for the event all afternoon, noting that record signings at the store typically draw lines of varying length in advance of the event. Apparently it's gotten so bad that they're just begging random passersby on the street to meet the Miami-based rapper. Sad! [Get Up Stand Up]
Front Page: 'Obsessed' may lead box office this weekend -- Earth Day was green in more ways than one for Disneynature's "Earth," which nabbed the best opening-day gross ever for a documentary (excluding concert films) in sowing $4 million at 1,804 theaters.
When Marvel Studios announced last fall that they had decided to replace Terrence Howard with the far-less-pricey Don Cheadle in Iron Man 2, the person who was most surprised by the news was none other than Terrence Howard himself, who read about the news in Variety, just like the rest of us did. So while it's understandable that he's still steamed about being undercut and losing a prominent role in a prime franchise, we're not sure that he's winning himself any new fans in Hollywood by continually giving juicy answers about the controversy to any journalist who happens to ask.
To wit, check out what he told veteran entertainment journalist Jeanne Wolf in an interview for Parade:
"Marvel made a choice, and it was a very, very bad choice. They didn't keep their word. They didn't honor my contract. They produced a great bounty with the first one but they put it all in the storehouse and you were not allowed in. They did the same thing with Gwyneth Paltrow, from what I've been told. They did it with almost everyone except Robert Downey [Jr.]. One of the things that actors need to learn to do is always stick together, one for all and all for one."
"I've seen the script, I know what's going to happen, but I'm not revealing anything. I believe in karma. When someone does something wrong, you don't have to get them back. Everything right will return the favor for you. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the movie. I want to see Don Cheadle become me. No, I want him to do better than me. That's what I really want to see. Don Cheadle was the reason I got Crash, so I have a lot of love for him."
Not only do we support Howard in his quest to speak out on this sensitive issue, but we applaud him for doing so. That said, because we admire Howard's talents as an actor (if not as a singer) and want to see him to continue to get work in the future, we humbly suggest that, on a go-forward basis, he politely issue a "No comment" when presented with questions on this particular subject. Take it from us, save all the Avi Arad–related bile you've been building up until you win yourself an Oscar. Or, if that never comes to fruition, a weepy interview with Barbara Walters.
• Hugh Jackman says he's not gay in Sunday's Parade. But he's definitely a Friend of Mickey.
• So Susan Boyle wasn't telling the truth about having never been...
You know you've made it when South Park mocks you.
The controversial cartoon—which recently dubbed Kanye West a "gay fish" and laid a Mickey Mouse smackdown on the...
It seems that Parker Posey’s rumored coupling with Keanu Reeves is over. And thank goodness, because that was kind of freaky. We’re happy to report that we spotted her looking very cozy with dreamy graphic designer and sculptor Scott Lenhardt last night at the Royalton for the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Woody Allen’s Whatever Works. It had been a bizarre night to begin with; Evan Rachel Wood literally ran away from us and out of the party with her head in her hands when we said the words, “Hey, two questions ... ” (Said a publicist: “I think she was overcrowded.”) And then, as if to warm our wounded heart, we happened upon Parker and her beau, the picture of affection. Their arms and legs kept getting entangled; his hand never left her knee. (We hate ourselves for having noticed this, but it was adorable!) And from our research, Lenhardt seems like a catch. His art subjects are chiefly animals, basketball, snowboarding, and death, which means he’s brooding, has a hot body, and is probably totally cool with Parker’s dog, Gracie, no matter how many times she bites him. Oh, and he designed snowboards for Burton, played bass in a band, and designed an album cover using a “T-shirt, Sculpey, Christmas lights, wood, and acrylic paint.” You can watch him being cute and talented with snowboarder Danny Davis here. At last, a boyfriend worthy of "Jackie-O" Pascal!
We've just heard from a very reliable source that Marc Jacobs is bringing Courtney Love and Madonna to the Met Ball, which means he will have the best table in the history of tables. Remember how amazing it was when Courtney crashed Madonna's interview with Kurt Loder at the 1995 Video Music Awards? It's like that all over again, except Marc will stand between them instead of Kurt! Diva fashion overload — someone fetch us a fan. (Plus, we hear Marc's fiancé, Lorenzo Martone, is sort of friendly with Madonna's man candy Jesus Luz, so that could make for a cute photo op, too.) The nineties are so back. We hope they all wear neon and bring highlighters to color on the tablecloths.
Lane Garrison may be celebrating May Day on the outside.
The former Prison Break actor is going to be released from prison after serving roughly half of his 40-month sentence for a 2006...
The Dana Carvey Show only aired for eight episodes, in 1996, but for what the show lacked in longevity, it more than made up for by launching the careers of what would eventually become some of the most popular and influential figures in contemporary comedy and cinema, including Stephen Colbert, Steve Carrell, Louis C.K., Charlie Kaufman, Robert Smigel, and Spike Feresten. Up until recently, only the most resourceful comedy nerds had access to the old episodes, but the full series can now be seen for free on Hulu. Recommended! [Hulu via Goldenfiddlr.]
In other photos, there was a woman dressed as April O'Neal, but that just seemed ridiculous.
Once again, we are just begging to get e-mails from the publicists for the Empire State Building every day for the rest of our lives, but what can we do? Not only will the Empire State Building be lit up in green tonight in honor of the 25th anniversary of the birth mutation-start of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but they actually got Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Leonardo to show up in person at the top of it. God bless New York City, and our perilous, ninja-filled, mutating-goo-infested subway system.
Once upon a time, a girl ordered a pair of jeans online from Hot Skinny Jeans. When they arrived, she tried them on and decided the wash didn't suit her liking. So she sent them in for an exchange and received a package back two weeks later with the jeans, informing her they couldn't be exchanged because they had been worn. She called to complain, and the owner of the company asked her, "What have you been doing on your knees? I don't want to know." No exchange was offered. [Consumerist]
There are tons of schmucks out there who are trying to interfere with the happiness of Rob Pattinson and his bosom-bud costar, Kristen Stewart.
Kristen Stewart supposedly just posted on...
A couple in England tied the knot this weekend with a Shrek-themed wedding, honoring the movie's message to "be yourself" by dressing up in fairy tale costumes and pretending to be ogres:
I'm not against people going all-out for something they're passionate about, but I didn't realize Shrek had such a bustling underground group of hardcore fans -- they're perfectly alright movies, but it'd be like doing a Bourne Identity themed wedding or a Meet The Parents wedding or just something generally likable that in no way deserves its own crazy subset of uber-fans.
Now if Boba Fett was marrying a female Wedge, then yes, by all means, I'd say proceed.
After the jump, three more pics of the adorable (if misguidedly-obsessed) couple:
Is it just us, or is it getting hot in Vulture Reading Room? The latest reactions to the European bodily fluid adventure Wetlands come from our own Adam Sternbergh, who tumbles brain-first into the “critical briar patch” the novel creates, and author Kate Christensen, who risks disrespecting a beloved pet in order to parody the book. Plus: Jessa Crispin, Ayelet Waldman, Sam Anderson, and our commenter chorus. [Vulture Reading Room]
The following is a dramatic reenactment. While the core events are real, a certain amount of color has been added to make it moderately more entertaining.
Scene:Office of the New York State attorney general, Manhattan. This morning.
New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo leaned his back against the door of his office. Bryce had just giddily sent off his explosive fax to Congress, in which Cuomo explained exactly what went down in the darkest hours of the Bank of America takeover of Merrill Lynch. It had been a chilling report to compile: As Ken Lewis and the board of Bank of America became aware of just how deep Merrill's 2008 fourth-quarter losses were ($7 billion deeper than advertised), they began to consider enacting the material-averse change clause in their takeover agreement. It would undo the final merger, which had gone into effect two weeks prior. Had they done it, it might have saved Bank of America huge losses, but it might have also caused a systematic meltdown in the financial sector.
When Ken Lewis informed Treasury secretary Hank Paulson of his intent, he was immediately called to Washington. Upon his return to New York, Lewis addressed the board, and the decision to invoke the MAC clause was reversed.
Cuomo shook his head, reliving the events. What had happened? Power had happened. In the privacy of Paulson's office, the secretary had made it plain: If Lewis invoked the clause and rejected Merrill, the government would replace him and the entire BofA board. "That makes it simple," Lewis said. "Let's de-escalate." "You will never speak of this and of Merrill's weaknesses to anyone except your board,"* Paulson then intoned. "Do you understand?" Lewis understood.
The fact that Cuomo had uncovered all of these secrets did nothing to assuage the weakness in his knees. He had seen power, real power, and once his thirst for it had been awakened, it might never be slaked. Paulson has the power to remove heads of the largest banks in the world! To make them do whatever he wants with a twitch of his beard! And here was Cuomo, sending letters and threatening to make bonus-lists public. Sure, it had been a thrill early on, when he got executives to return those first AIG bonuses, but it didn't last long. And now, compared to this, it was nothing.
Cuomo reopened his door for a moment. "Bryce, get me an energy drink," he told his assistant. He needed a rush, but he knew that it — and nothing ever again — would be the same.
Ah, get a broom! Oh wait, that's Mischa Barton in too much eyeliner.
MAKEUP
• Glamour explains how to create "mega-smoky" eyes. And by "mega-smoky" they mean "raccoon." [Beauty Department/Glamour]
• Lauren Luke, a single mom whose YouTube makeup-how-to video channel has 39 million viewers, just created her own makeup line called By Lauren Luke. Oh, good ol' YouTube. [BellaSugar]
• Yves Saint Laurent's new summer makeup collection features the limited-edition Trésor d'Afrique Collector palette. The bright-blue eyeshadow included in it looks so pretty on the model, but we fear we'd just look batty and/or trampy in it. [Daily Obsession]
HAIR
• The biggest mistake people make when performing at-home color treatments is putting color right onto the hair from the bottle. Mix it in a bowl first. Duh. [NYT]
SKIN
• A new anti-aging cream called 2-Week Miracle promises to make aged skin look like a 20-year-old's in fourteen days. The testers said it made skin look brighter, tighter, and less wrinkly. We probably don't need to tell you, but they still didn't look like 20-year-olds. [Daily Mail]
Jack Black and Michael Cera appear as Andy Samberg's "parents" in a very funny promo spot for the 2009 MTV Movie Awards, which will be hosted by Samberg on May. The comedic conceit of the bit is very strong, but we're not sure how well it works as an advertisement for the event when you consider that all the laugh lines are coming from the two stars who are not hosting the show. Could it be that MTV got cold feet about hiring Samberg for the gig, even though he is presumably quite popular with their target demographic? Or are we reading too much into this, and it's nothing more than an amusing skit with Samberg doing a good job as a baby-talking straight man? You be the judge — the clip is after the jump.
Adding to his growing reputation as someone prone to falling asleep at inappropriate times, National Economic Council director Larry Summers nodded off during a meeting with credit-card-industry CEOs earlier today — and, reportedly, right while the Greatest Orator of Our Time was speaking. Oh! We just thought of the perfect gift for Larry Summers. Can't wait for his birthday.
Either this celeb has never shown off her tattoo until now, or she's sporting new ink on her neck.
She hit a red carpet event last night with her hair pulled up and a cross on...
Last week, the hammer came down on the Pirate Bay — its four founders were slapped with a year in jail and a $3.6 million fine in the copyright-infringement case. But they won’t be walking the plank quite yet! (Get it?!!!!) Their lawyer, Peter Althin, will demand a retrial on the basis that the judge, Tomas Norström, was perhaps a bit biased, seeing as he’s a member of the Swedish Copyright Association and the Swedish Association for the Protection of Industrial Property, and all. Norström’s involvement in the Swedish Association of Convicting the Pirate Bay Guys of Copyright Infringement, however, is at this point only rumored. [Billboard]
Zut alors! A poster for the upcoming biopic Coco Avant Chanel, which features Audrey Tautou holding a lit cigarette, has been banned by Paris' bus and train advertising giant Métrobus in...
Banks and auto companies aren't the only ones restless and clamoring for aid in this economy. Fashion designers are, too. For they are helpless in the face of major department-store sales and the proliferation of knockoffs peddled by fast-fashion chains. But this week they came together to cry "Enough!" and seek change.
A group of designers, including Philip Crangi, Justin Giunta, and Malia Mills, met with the Council of Fashion Designers of America a couple of days ago to draw up a "declaration of designers." It's basically a document meant to bring designers together to formally agree that department stores marking their merchandise down without their input isn't fair and won't be tolerated.
Yesterday, Michelle Obama's favorite designers went to Washington seeking to reintroduce an anti-piracy bill that would make knocking off designer clothes illegal. Currently you cannot copyright the design of a particular item, just an original print on an item, which is why fast-fashion chains like Forever 21 so easily get away with blatantly ripping off designer wares. Narciso Rodriguez has lobbied in the past to get the anti-piracy bill passed. It never went through because legislators worried it would allow lawsuits to overrun the industry and stifle creative freedom. The CFDA sent Rodriguez, Maria Cornejo, Jason Wu, and Thakoon Panichgul to lobby Congress this time, because they "are celebrities in Washington," according to CFDA executive director Steven Kolb. "People are going to be lining up with their digital cameras to photograph them." And no one is better at getting things done in Washington — or anywhere for that matter — than celebrities. Now, if they could only enlist First Dog Bo to stand before the committee with them, everyone would really pay attention.
This week, the Metropolitan Museum of Art opens “The Pictures Generation, 1974–1984,” a look back at the gang of mostly New York artists who came of age roughly between the loss of Vietnam and the fall of Richard Nixon. The first generation to grow up in the age of TV news and pop culture, the close-knit group of artists adopted black-and-white photography as their principal medium, a cool, critical distance as their style, and Hollywood, art, and advertising as frequent subject matter. The show features breakout early works by Sherrie Levine, Cindy Sherman, Richard Prince, and Laurie Simmons, but also pieces by some less famous "post-conceptual pioneers" like Jack Goldstein and Nancy Dwyer — and it’s something of a comeback for seventies star Richard Longo, whose huge works hang prominently in the museum’s Great Hall. See ten highlights now.
There’s no denying it now. There it is, in black and white: The Hamptons real-estate market is dismal. According to Prudential Douglas Elliman’s market survey released today, transactions were off by 53.5 percent in the first three months of this year, compared to last year. Only 145 homes found buyers. Things are better in the North Fork, where the median sales price fell 13.6 percent, to $443,500. Fifty-six properties sold there in the first three months, a 36.4 percent plunge. As for the luxury market, let’s just say it’s not too luxurious. There are 470 properties available in the top 10 percent, price-wise, of the market, about a third more than last year, and they’re getting cheaper: Median prices are down 24.7 percent.
Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus showed up at the UK premiere of 'Hannah Montana: The Movie' with a new lady on his arm. And check out that chemistry!
Can you guess who his new lady love is? Answer ahead:JK, It's Miley:
Honestly, have any of you ever taken a picture with your Dad where you're tugging at his shirt/coat? It just seems intimate beyond words.
Also what is up with Billy Ray's Soul Patch Color? He looks like if someone took a picture of a regular guy and defiled it with a marker and tip-froster:
It's like he went to his hairstylist and asked for the "Debra Messing". Source: Best Week Ever | 23 Apr 2009 | 7:57 pm
The last time we saw Jerry Hall, she was playing a cougar, teasing a man half her age with fancy bags and bracelets for the Karl Lagerfeld–shot Chanel accessories catalogue. Her sexy, spicy photos must've turned enough heads, because Ford Models just signed the 52-year-old to the agency. Again. After originally signing with Ford in 1981, she left two years ago to focus on other projects. But with her superstar status heating up once more — after Chanel, she posed for a Self Service editorial, will release an autobiography this fall, and has more editorials in the works — returning to the agency that skyrocketed her to the top sounds like a good business plan. And now we can add Hall to the steady stream of supermodels who prove that there is no such thing as over-the-hill (Cindy, Christy, Claudia). Which means get ready, rookies: The veterans are back to school your asses. And they're not going anywhere.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles appeared on top of the Empire State Building today to celebrate their 25th Anniversary (wow - I realize that dates back to the comic but still...25 years?? My God...) Here's a brief photo recap of the event, along with a bunch of dumb captions that I wrote--
The Full Gang:
During the 30-minute promo event, the Turtles Van was parked near Herald Square and received 14 parking tickets, 3 boots, and was towed, then towed back to the spot so they could put another boot on it:
Hey guys, let's pretend that thing is Shredder!!! Remember Shredder?? Grrrrr!!!!
Yo gnarly dudes, I'm way too cool for these binocs -- where's the party??
Donatello, the nerd, acting WAAAY out of character. I sure hope someone got fired for that one.
Remember when Raphael used to do this all the time?
Yo April, do you have my tickets? To the GUN SHOW!! Wait, you're sure I've used that on you before already? Ah, sorry.
Michelangelo might not be making a "jerking off" motion, but he's also not NOT making a "jerking off" motion.
Apparently Whitney Port is mightier than the economy. At a time when several celebrity fashion lines are being canned, put on hold, or downgraded — as with former Hills co-star Lauren Conrad's eponymous effort, first on hiatus and later bumped to Kohl's — Port's people leaked sneak-peek photos of her Whitney Eve fall 2009 collection, officially making her the only person from MTV's initially fashion-related reality franchise to be creating fashion-related buzz in real life. And while Whitney's designs won't exactly have Marc Jacobs quaking in his kilt, they're easily the best work any of those Hills girls have churned out. We realize this is faint praise, considering Heidi willingly slapped her name on shorts with a thumb-length inseam, but the fact remains that Whitney’s efforts could have been way more embarrassing than they are.
Port gets points for echoing the obvious eighties vibe on New York's runways in February, cutting blacks with hot fuchsia and designing one striped black strapless cocktail dress you might see a John Hughes heroine wearing to school with a blazer and cowboy boots. It's nice to see she's paying attention — especially compared to LC's could've-been-any-old-season jersey dresses and Montag’s has-to-be-1989-because-I-look-like-a-Whitesnake-video-vixen zebra prints. And at least Whitney's new stuff hints at mild stylistic evolution, as if she actually learned something while "working” at DVF. While Conrad's benign second collection displayed very little growth, and Montag's clothes merely begged us to take a page from her leaflet and flash our junk as much as possible, Port's looks like she's tracking her life from L.A. to New York. The first Whitney Eve collection, all pastels and frills, represented the Whitney who bit her lip and fake typed while Lauren yakked about Brody Jenner; the fall 2009 line has a darker, edgier flavor befitting the Whitney who moved east and got her heart broken by a rocker who looks like a Jonas Brother crossed with one of the Bee Gees. Indeed, her clothes are exactly what you’d expect to see on an otherwise wholesome college girl who’s bitter that her poseur boyfriend played her for a fool.
Of course, the flip side is that said college girl probably can’t afford to drop $350 per piece for her Angry Scorned Woman phase when she could get countless similar items for less at H&M. Whitney’s financial backers may not be feeling the economic crunch, but her demographic surely is. And while her line does feel personal, each shiny frock — or those high-waisted wraparound skirts with thigh slits — is a little too ripped from a scene in The City in which, say, Port gazes at a martini while wondering if she can trust her boyfriend, Jay; nods seriously when a girl who dated Jay suggests Whitney probably can't trust him; or stands outside a club shedding one picturesque tear while explaining to Jay why she shouldn't trust him. The crotch-skimming blazer paired with lace leggings even evokes one of our major complaints about Whitney's personal style: no matter the weather, the kid acts allergic to pants. So although it makes sense that Whitney would design for girls who want to live just like she does, basing your collection on items you already own is at best lazy. Even if it did work for Kate Moss.
But, lazy or not, it’s not like anyone had Whitney pegged as the second coming of DVF anyway, even if she did have a desk there for fifteen minutes. Frankly, we didn’t even think she'd be the second coming of Old Navy. It’s nice to be surprised by someone, even if the bar has been set so low, it’s practically in hell. That's why we fully anticipate enjoying LC's upcoming young-adult novel: It only really requires complete sentences to be a success. Maybe that's all it takes for there to be hope for these MTV boneheads, after all: lowered expectations.
This week, American Idol was a salty little bitch, eliminating two contestants from the Top 7 during, of all things, Disco Week. Matt Giraud's punk ass was saved, and instead, we wished a teary-eyed farewell to Lil Rounds and Anoop Desai (who sang better in his farewell song than he has all season.)
During each week's Elimination Episodes, the Idol stage welcomes some of the world's most famous entertainers to show the contestants what it takes to become a successful recording artist. Only, it kind of felt like we as a collective nation hopped into a time machine and fast forwarded to eons from now, when singers stop being polite and start being real... real old.
Things start out ok enough, as Freda Payne comes out onto the stage (in better shape at 66 than I'll ever be), and caws her way through the song "Band of Gold". But before you can say "who is this fine, old woman?", Mizz Thelma Houston rolls out into the homes of millions wearing the skinned remains of Big Bird, and thrusting her hips out so many times I was sure a 7 year old was going to fall out of her V. But nothing -- NOTHING -- could top the big Finale... KC of KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND, who now looks like an extra cast on a v. special child molestation episode of Law & Order SUV. Also, he may have lost his voice in a chicken wing eating related accident, as he just sort of stood there in a hot sweat, hoping not to make eye contact with Simon.
In the immortal words of the internet: FAIL:
With so much bad news spilling in on a daily basis, sometimes your Daily Intel editors can only rely on the shining triumph of the human spirit to keep our weary heads from hitting the keyboard. Like this report from Cityfile, regarding Tinsley Mortimer: "It seems she's made arrangements to have the makeup artists at Christian Dior — she's a Dior 'Beauty Ambassador,' in case you weren't aware — give makeovers to foster children." And for just pennies a day, you can help a scruffy urchin to buy her very own tube of DiorShow mascara. [Cityfile]
MetroCards expire after a year but only activate once you swipe them for the first time, making it theoretically possible for you to buy a dozen cards at $81 and avoid this summer's cataclysmic price increase, at least for a while, sparing you hundreds of dollars. In fact, we were planning on doing just that, and using the savings to feed orphaned, impoverished children. Unfortunately, the MTA has put the kibosh on such arrangements by decreeing that all MetroCards bought before the May 31 fare hike must be used by June 8. It's not the commuters we're sorry for — it's those hungry orphans. [City Room/NYT]
At 7 a.m., anxious shoppers had already formed a modest line down Fifth Avenue at 51st Street outside of H&M, eager to snatch up the Matthew Williamson collection that hit stores today. The troupe eventually wrapped the corner at 9 a.m., though just barely. First in line were two blonde dance teachers with matching polka-dotted scarves from the Commes des Garçons H&M line around their necks. They lined up at 10 p.m. yesterday and stayed up chatting through the night. Though starting to fatigue by morning, one was determined to meet her $800 budget (the other told us, "The sky's the limit"). Next to them was a young woman who was studying for the G.R.E. while waiting, and informed us she planned to come in late to work. Priorities, people. And then there was a 24-year-old funemployed gal who planned to spend her unemployment check on the $79.90 peacock dress Katy Perry recently wore to an H&M-sponsored party. For most of these women, though, the radiant $129 blue blazer was the holy grail. One 23-year-old creative assistant told us she had been permitted to skip work, so long as she brought that blazer back for her boss.
Once the doors opened, the line disappeared in a single swoop, and the red carpet was left with nothing more than a few scraps of litter. They ran through the doors to find an assortment that screamed spring — light-pink cardigans, yellow blouses, and colorful leather clutches remained on the racks when we left the store at around 10:30. But the more unique pieces inspired by Williamson's past runway collections quickly sold out. The $249 short-sleeved sequin multicolored dress was the first to go. Fifteen minutes in, the blue blazer was nowhere to be found, either, though some straggling matching pants ($59.90) remained. The $350 floor-length, ruffled silk dress — only available at the 51st Street H&M — was gone within the hour. Savvy shoppers were spotted buying an item, trying it on in-store, and then returning it, so sold-out items like the dress may reappear at some point. A whole wall had been switched to non–Matthew Williamson H&M stuff within an hour of the doors opening, and some of the dress-hoarding got ugly. But diffusion-line-launch veterans noted that, compared to the mannequin-shoving, rack-shaking clamor at Topshop's grand opening, this launch was merely "buzzing."
Oh look — a small stimulus package.Photo: Melissa Hom
If you didn't schedule an "eye-doctor appointment" this morning so you could shop the Williamson merchandise fresh, you have another chance on May 14, when the second shipment of the Williamson line hits stores, including his debut men's line inspired by Williamson's personal style. Ladies can also buy bikinis and sunglasses. Daria Werbowy's posing skills not included.
When a fugitive fired shots at bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Tuesday night, cameras were rolling for his reality TV show, Chapman said.
Until her recent confusing breakup with girlfriend Samantha Ronson, Lindsay Lohan couldn't have possibly scored an interview on the popular Ellen show. She has no upcoming projects to speak of, no major charity projects, and a likability index lower than David Paterson's. But since the breakup, she made one of the most genuinely surprising celebrity Funny or Die videos we've seen in a while, and she's been on the cover of magazines that portray her — for once — in a sympathetic light. And this afternoon, she'll speak with Ellen DeGeneres about the breakup on the air. She explains that the breakup completely surprised her, and that it and the restraining order her ex-girlfriend's family tried to file "came out of nowhere." "I've never done anything to make people assume that I'm dangerous," she said, not entirely telling the truth. Ellen then tries valiantly to drop some hints to Lohan, explaining that when she went through a painful public breakup that hurt her career, she took a few years off to recover and put herself together before making a splash again. "I'm trying to get my career back in shape," Lindsay said, ignoring her. Isn't it obvious? This breakup is the only thing she's got going for her now. She's not going to give it up until she gets a Lifetime original movie, or at least a job at that strip joint, out of it.
Today is Take Your Child to Work Day, marking the perfect occasion for Michelle Obama to debut a second cardigan by Junya Watanabe. She wore it while speaking to children at the White House this morning with the white Moschino blouse we last saw her wear in Prague. So hold on to your hats, ladies' monthlies — MObama shops her closet. See the full look in our ever-expanding Michelle Obama Look Book. [Mrs. O]
A judge said Thursday he will reopen a hearing on whether a handgun found on Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne's tour bus can be used as evidence at his illegal-weapon possession trial.
Fashion Wire Daily - Talk about a party living up to its name! At the Us Weekly Hot Hollywood Style bash on Wednesday night, April 22, at My House, the place was so jammed with starlets, fashionistas, rappers, and general hangers-on that the place was steamy hot, despite one large outdoor smoking section that looked out over the glittery red carpet.
An actor posing a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Rafael on top of the Empire State building for the celerbation the live action figures' 25th anniversary. The pizza-munching crimefighters are to return to... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 23 Apr 2009 | 6:15 pm
The always-scheming Rod Blagojevich surfaced on Today this morning after recently learning he will not be allowed to appear on I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!. Meredith Vieira pointed out that the judge who ruled against him "wasn't convinced you would come back if you went on this show." Obviously! Those judges are sharp, we tell you. But Blago claims he just needs the cash, and his willingness to go eat bugs on television "is just a testament to how much I love my kids." Of course, there are plenty of ways for shamed celebrities to make money right here in America if they're willing to degrade themselves for the public's amusement, which Blago clearly is. We're confident he'll find one while he plots his next escape.
A few days ago, a heated argument took place at BWE.tv headquarters (Arby's). My coworker insisted that an episode existed where Steve Urkel crash landed into the backyard of The Full House set wearing a jet pack. I insisted that in no way, shape, or form could such a golden unicorn egg of delights possibly exist. Well, after hours of Google searches and tears of laughter, we discovered we were both wrong. (The answer awaits you ahead.) It was because of this fight, however, that we uncovered a treasure trove of nearly unbelievable clips featuring characters from one sitcom visiting the set of an entirely different sitcom. Some of you might call it "synergy"; we call it "magical".
So please, join us for a walk down unbe-f**king-lievable memory lane, as we bring you the The Top 10 Sitcom Cameos Made By Other Sitcom Characters. Beginning with #10:
10. "Urkel Visits Full House” Get this: Steve Urkel plays cousin to one of DJ's school pals. What are the odds? Well, that's the kind of question only a small black child genius could answer, because our minds our busy pouring out of our earholes from WTF-ness. Uncle Jesse teaching Steve Urkel HOW TO WALK? Urkel dealing Uncle Danny love advice? And asking for cheese? There's a TI-85 graph of my head exploding somewhere right now.
REASON TO WATCH: Check this clip out if only to realize that Jaleel White may have been the most talented child actor ever see John Stamos' jean-peen.
9. Absolutely Fabulous Visits Roseanne Remember when both AbFab and Roseanne were hit shows? We do (even though they weren't hits at the same time). But we definitely have no recollection of the classy ladies from England parlaying with Roseanne and Jackie on the show's famed Halloween episode. But you know what? It worked. Also, remember when Roseanne got thin? LOL of Fame.
REASON TO WATCH: Keep your ears peeled for a hilariously dated reference to Kathie Lee Gifford's sweatshops.
8. Bewitched Hangs Out with The Flintstones:Bewitched'sSamantha and Darren -- both animated and with crazy eyes -- randomly show up in the Stone Age. And because back then women were born without arms and legs, Samantha convinces Wilma and Betty to show their husbands that they can be just as good at camping as the men are. In the process, Samantha uses her Devil Magic to clean up Pebbles’ room, because, hey, they're still women. (Starts at 2:33)
REASON TO WATCH: Samantha's witchcraft scares the SH*T out of Dino, replete with violin glissandos and "yipes". Also, we never realized how flat-chested Wilma and Betty were until that witchslut showed up.
7. THREE PACK: Caroline in the City on Friends, Friends on Caroline in the City, Friends on The Single Guy NBC tried to blur the lines between their 90's White People with Problems lineup by having characters fall into each others episodes. Also, David Schwimmer thinks Jonathan Silverman is gay for him, and dare we say their chemistry reaches heights that Ross and Rachel could only dream of.
REASON TO WATCH: If you love laughtracks, you'll love kill yourself. Also, please take the time to remember The Single Guy, maybe the most underrated sitcom ever which also starred Ernest Borgnine as an elevator operator.
6. Step By Step meets Boy Meets World in Disney World Notable only because there is never a mention that it is an actual cameo. There's never any "Hi! I'm Dana from Port Washington, Wisconsin. Isn't Disney World great?"
REASON TO WATCH: Rider Strong.
REASON NOT TO WATCH: Topenga & Every Other Bad Actor on Boy Meets World.
5. The Jeffersons on the Fresh Prince of Bel AirWill Smith and Nia Long go to couples counseling, only to bump into, who else, George and Weezie Jefferson. (Starts at 2:50 but watch from beginning, trust.)
REASON TO WATCH: Scientology, Shmientology -- WILL SMITH IS HILARIOUS NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS. This clip is beyond to die for funny (with no thanks to Nia Long).
4. Frasier & Lillith visit Wings According to its Youtube description: "Dr. Frasier Crane's plans to conduct a self-esteem seminar on Nantucket are interrupted by Helen's accusations that he ruined her life in New York City when she attended one of his seminars. Instead of the refund she desires, Frasier allows Helen to attend the seminar for free laksjkldjalkshfjhffffffffff" (head asleep on keyboard) Honestly, we couldn't bring ourselves to watch the entire clip.
REASONS TO WATCH: None that we can think of, especially since Tony Shalhoub isn't in it.
3. Different Strokes Visits Silver Spoons and Hacks into the military... through COMPUTERS! If you can forget for just a moment that Gary Coleman is at least 30 years older than Ricky Schroeder in this clip, you will find it highly enjoyable! How these two never got their own spin-off series is beyond us. ("Tiny and the Blonde"; "Midgy and Tally"; "That One Kid from That Show and That Other Kid from That Show"... the title possibilities are endless.)
REASON TO WATCH: At around 5:30 in, you will see the graphics that went on to inspire The Matrix.
2. Seinfeld on Mad About You Yes, even Seinfeld stooped to "Crossover Cameo" lows, as Paul Reiser shows up at Kramer’s door because... he... owns... it. Paul Reiser owns Kramer's apartment, and gives it to him in exchange for a box of Cubans. (Not the people, the cigars.) What follows is the second most desperate thing you've ever seen Michael Richards do on camera after the "N-bomb heard around the world".
REASON TO WATCH: If you ever needed a reason to hate Seinfeld, this will be it.
1. Urkel Crashes Step by Step: THE ULTIMATE IN TV SITCOM CROSSOVERS. Steve Urkel flies a jetpack from Chicago to Port Washington, Wisconsin to crash-land in the backyard of the Step by Step family. But, dare I say, after the initial crash-landing, Urkel is sadly wasted in the episode. We've posted the beginning, and then ahead, the Urkel Dance -- which is actually pretty suggestive.
REASON TO WATCH: Are you serious? URKEL CRASH-LANDS IN A BACKYARD. Easily the highlight of the entire Step by Step series.
Others we're missing? Leave 'em in the comments! (With many thanks to Intern Dave for his incredible research skills.) Source: Best Week Ever | 23 Apr 2009 | 6:07 pm
I'm instantly dismissive of most non-Pixar animated trailers I see, especially when they're produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and feature talking animals who end up in captivity (not unlike Bolt, Finding Nemo, The Crazy Caughtanimals...) and a requisite trailer fart noise; none of the government agents get hit in the balls by a rake while they're trying to capture the loose animals, but hey, it's still the first trailer.
The cast of G-Force, however, isn't you're typical "Let's pay 20 A-listers to do an hour of voiceover work so we can slap their names on the poster" -- it stars Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Sam Rockwell, Tracy Morgan, Jon Favreau, Penelope Cruz, Steve Buscemi, and, why the hell not, Nicolas Cage too. That fart still has me skeptical, but that's a pretty tough cast to not at least give it a chance.
French president of the Cannes film festival Gilles Jacob, seen here addressing the press in Cannes, said that this year's edition expects to pull through the economic crisis relatively unscathed Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 23 Apr 2009 | 5:12 pm
Another update from the my God this is a slow news week Gossip Story of the Millenium:
Michael Phelps responded to the rumors that he's dating Miss California Carrie Prejean with the following...I guess this qualifies as a statement?
"I'm not dating anybody," he told Usmagazine.com Wednesday at the opening of the Omega flagship boutique in NYC. "I'm single. My private life stays private."
"I'm not saying I support her," Phelps then added. "I'm not saying I don't support her."
Phelps added, "All I'm saying is, I nailed the crap out of her. And a handful of other Miss U.S.A. Pageant contestants. But I don't really care about the gay marriage issue. The only 'marriage' issue I care about is the marriage between my penis and the vaginas of beauty queens, and I did that, a bunch of times. But my private life stays private, and I have no public stance on gay marriage. And I'm totally single, other models out there, and I will have sex with you. Also, abortion? Not pro-choice, not pro-life, just sex with models, because I'm very single. Am I making myself clear?" Source: Best Week Ever | 23 Apr 2009 | 5:00 pm
The pop star reveals the real inspiration behind "Cry" and her most
embarrassing YouTube moment
In the current Rolling Stone, Kelly Clarkson reveals why she hates Auto-Tune and whether she ever kissed Katy Perry. But the chatty Texan also shared her reaction to the My December backlash, what it was like watching herself strip on YouTube and why she won't put out a country album. Here's Clarkson in her own words:
Front Page: 'Ugly Betty,' 'Grey's,' 'Lost' make the cut -- ABC doled out some good news to producers Thursday morning, giving early pickups to its top primetime performers.
Celebrity look alike Marilyn Monroe poses during an audition preview in Singapore. US entertainment giant Universal Studios on Thursday announced a global recruitment drive for aspiring actors, singers... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 23 Apr 2009 | 4:18 pm
Cinemagoers arrive for afternoon matinees at Wanda International Cinemas in Beijing. China may be a paradise for addicts of pirated DVDs, but the box office is also booming thanks to a growing audience... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 23 Apr 2009 | 4:08 pm
China's movie industry is flourishing and comfortable, western style theatres are opening across China's major cities. The growing market has enticed western movie promoters to seek a cut in the business... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 23 Apr 2009 | 4:08 pm
After five years and 241 concerts at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Elton John took his final bow last night on a stage largely resembling the walls of everyone's favorite okayest chain restaurant. Directly following the bow, Elton leapt offstage and ate a cold plate of Jack Daniel's chicken and mozzarella sticks he didn't order:
Here's a shot from the Elton John Sega CD Game "Elton's Crazy Fakktory Workz":
After the jump, three more pics of Elton's grand finale:
Elton's name as designed by the gurus behind Nickelodeon's "Out of Control":
A leftover prop from the Cirque du Soleil Beatles "Love" show, from back when it was still a porno:
And for Elton's astonishing final encore, he actually shrunk himself down to perform "Tiny Dancer" while leaning on a gumball:
Only about 350 people attended the first New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1970, and that number included gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and the other 100 or so local musicians who performed.
Susan Boyle: Singer. Internet Sensation. Possible Virgin. Model?
Well if this photo of the woman working the sidewalk in her hometown of Blackburn, Scotland has anything to do with it... maybe:
On the bright side, if the modeling thing doesn't work out, she always has a future as a Helena Bonham Carter impersonator. Source: Best Week Ever | 23 Apr 2009 | 3:46 pm
Even though The Killers are deep into touring their third studio effort "Day & Age," drummer Ronnie Vannucci tells Billboard.com plans are in the works for a DVD concert release later this year.
Alison "VV" Mosshart says that fan requests have led the Kills to release an expanded edition of the duo's first album, "Keep On Your Mean Side," which is due out May 5. "No one can find that record -- I felt like I keep hearing that from a lot of people," Mosshart, who's doing double duty these days with the all-star band the Dead Weather, tells Billboard.com.
'Tonight' show host Jay Leno has taken ill and checked himself into a hospital for observation, according to his spokesman. Source: FOXNews.com | 23 Apr 2009 | 3:09 pm
The Beatles in an undated photo. The European Parliament voted Thursday in favour of extending musicians' royalties to 70 years, a sizeable increase on the current 50 years but less than an original EU... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 23 Apr 2009 | 2:24 pm
Works from a new art show called "Nothingness and Being" in Mexico City on April 22, 2009. One of Mexico's hottest art venues, a juice factory outside the capital, opens the show in a busy art week proving... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 23 Apr 2009 | 2:20 pm
A piece of art for a new show in Mexico City, on April 22, 2009. One of Mexico's hottest art venues, a juice factory outside the capital, opens the show Thursday in a busy art week proving Mexico's growing... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 23 Apr 2009 | 2:20 pm
A man looks at an art work at a new show in Mexico City on April 22, 2009. One of Mexico's hottest art venues, a juice factory outside the capital, opens the show Thursday in a busy art week proving Mexico's... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 23 Apr 2009 | 2:20 pm
A polar bear falls through thin Arctic ice while searching for food for his family. A humpback whale guides her calf on a perilous 4,000-mile journey. A herd of African elephants in search of water battles a sandstorm in the Kalahari Desert.
Jamie Foxx suffered through his own psychological turmoil while plunging into the role of a mentally ill musician in "The Soloist." Foxx says his bond with Nathaniel Ayers was close because of his own battle two decades ago -- triggered when "somebody slipped me something in college and I lost my mind."
Donald Trump addressed the issues surrounding the Miss USA pageant on FOX News Thursday, saying that he has received thousands of calls and letters, the majority of which support Miss California's comments on gay marriage. Source: FOXNews.com | 23 Apr 2009 | 11:35 am
This isn't the type of headline that floats Jay Leno's boat.
The Tonight Show host canceled Thursday's taping of the NBC late-night staple—a rarity—after he felt...
Now where have we seen extraordinarily sinewy people practicing capoeira before?
Tonight's reward on Survivor: Tocantins was a day trip for Erinn Lobdell, J.T. Thomas, Debbie Beebe...
• Hugh Jackman says he's not gay in Sunday's Parade. But he's definitely a Friend of Mickey.
• So Susan Boyle wasn't telling the truth about having never been...
You know you've made it when South Park mocks you.
The controversial cartoon—which recently dubbed Kanye West a "gay fish" and laid a Mickey Mouse smackdown on the...
Lane Garrison may be celebrating May Day on the outside.
The former Prison Break actor is going to be released from prison after serving roughly half of his 40-month sentence for a 2006...
There are tons of schmucks out there who are trying to interfere with the happiness of Rob Pattinson and his bosom-bud costar, Kristen Stewart.
Kristen Stewart supposedly just posted on...
Either this celeb has never shown off her tattoo until now, or she's sporting new ink on her neck.
She hit a red carpet event last night with her hair pulled up and a cross on...
Zut alors! A poster for the upcoming biopic Coco Avant Chanel, which features Audrey Tautou holding a lit cigarette, has been banned by Paris' bus and train advertising giant Métrobus in...
Another update from the 
