Read more posts by Mark Graham
Filed Under: 30 Rock, Alec Baldwin, Liz Lemon, Theories, Tina Fey, TV
Dov Charney hasn't spoken to the press about the lawsuit filed against American Apparel by Woody Allen over the use of his image from the movie Annie Hall on American Apparel billboards. But last night, Charney finally spoke! Well okay — he blogged a statement. But that's something! He wanted to correct the "numerous inaccurate reports" about the case in the media (many of them in the New York Post) that "have created misperceptions I feel compelled to correct." He goes on to say American Apparel will not make Woody Allen's personal life "the central focus of our defense." He adds that American Apparel will not call Mia Farrow or Soon-Yi as witnesses.
Also:
I have deep respect for Mr. Allen who is a source of inspiration to me. The billboards and images from the Annie Hall movie were intended to be a parody/social statement and comedic satire to provoke discussion and public discourse about the baseless claims that had been made against American Apparel and myself, society's reaction to lawsuits that delve into an individual's private sexual life and the media's sensationalism of such matters.
So if we understand Charney correctly, the billboard was supposed to make We the Public laugh about all those silly sexual-harassment suits filed against him and realize those were hardly stories to begin with — the media just turns them into stories. We completely see the connection. Boy, do we feel foolish for not realizing it when the billboard debuted — and even more foolish for going over a year without this enlightenment.
A Statement from Dov Charney [American Apparel]
Earlier: Woody Allen’s Lawsuit Against American Apparel Becomes a Hissy Battle of Pot and Kettle
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: american apparel, Charney Explains It All, dov charney, lawsuits, woody allen
Raccoons Attack: Jacob Estes’s dark comedy The Details, the director’s first movie since 2004’s Mean Creek, is a go. It stars James McAvoy and Elizabeth Banks as a couple whose disagreements over how to deal with an infestation of raccoons in their backyards leads to an escalating chain of events. The movie also features Laura Linney and Anna Friel as, we’re just going to assume, a bumbling pair of animal-control officers. [Variety]
The Scone is Next: Robert De Niro and Edward Norton have joined the cast of the psychological thriller Stone, the first project from the newly formed Mimran Schur Pictures. The movie, directed by John Curran and written by Angus MacLachlan, centers on the relationship between De Niro’s character, a corrections officer, and Norton’s, a convicted arsonist. Following 2001's The Score, this is the second film in Norton and Deniro’s celebrated “movies that start with an ‘S’ and have a long ‘O’ sound” trilogy. [HR]
When's the Are You Afraid of the Dark? Adaptation Coming?: Katie Holmes will star in Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, a “Guillermo Del Toro Presentation” co-scripted by del Toro and to be directed by one of his protégés, the former comic-book artist Troy Nixey. The feature is based on a 1973 ABC made-for-TV movie about a young girl who moves in with her father and his girlfriend and finds they are sharing the house with devilish creatures. Did they meet them through — wait for it, wait for it — Craigslist? [Variety]
Mob Movie: Ray Stevenson, Val Kilmer, and Christopher Walken are all set for The Irishman, based on the real story of seventies gangster Danny Greene. Stevenson will play Greene, an Irish-American whose battles with the mob in seventies Cleveland led to a nationwide turf war that greatly harmed the mafia. Walken will play the loan shark and nightclub owner Shondor Birns and Kilmer will play a cop who befriends Greene. Sounds awesome, right? Beware — Tara Reid, whose Dundee Entertainment is co-producing, is tangentially involved with the project. [HR]
The People's Champ: Dwayne Johnson will move away from his recent family fare with Faster, an action drama to be directed by Phil Joanou. Johnson will play an ex-con hell-bent on avenging his brother, killed ten years earlier during a botched heist. Apparently he’s also a lazy ex-con hell-bent on revenge because, ten years? [Variety]
Form Like Voltron: The creative team behind Robot Chicken — Tom Root, Matthew Senreich, and Seth Green — will launch another stop-motion animation series, Titan Maximum, on Adult Swim in September. Maximum will revolve around a group of hotshot pilots who defend Saturn’s moon, Titan; when they combine their spaceships, they form the giant robot Titan Maximum. Root explains: “Titan Maximum is about what would really happen if a team of idiot kids was in charge of a six-story-tall robot.” [HR]
Read more posts by Amos Barshad
Filed Under: anna friel, christopher walken, don't be afraid of the dark, dwayne johnson, edward norton, elizabeth banks, faster, guillermo del toro, jacob estes, james mcavoy, katie holmes, laura linney, movies, ray stevenson, robert de niro, stone, the details, the industry, the irishman, titan maximum, val kilmer
The results of the stress tests will officially be released this afternoon, but with all of the information that has already leaked about them, the end result is going to be about as anticlimactic as The Watchmen. This morning's Wall Street Journal identifies a number of the banks regulators have directed to come up with more capital: Bank of America tops the list with its gargantuan $34 billion hole, and is followed by the usual parade of suspects including Citigroup ($5 billion), Wells Fargo & Co. ($13 to $15 billion), GMAC ($11.5 billion), and Morgan Stanley ($1.5 billion), and there are probably not going to be many more surprises. But things are just getting exciting for the CEOs of troubled banks, for whom the race for survival is beginning in earnest.
According to the Federal Reserve:
As part of the 30-day planning process, firms will need to review their existing management and Board in order to assure that the leadership of the firm has sufficient expertise and ability to manage the risks presented by the current economic environment and maintain balance sheet capacity sufficient to continue prudent lending to meet the credit needs of the economy.
For Bank of America's Ken Lewis and Citigroup's Vikram Pandit in particular, who have spent much of the year demonstrating insufficient behavior (Lewis through his decision to save himself and screw over shareholders with acquisition of Merrill Lynch; Pandit with his never-ending private-plane and Zen-garden kerfuffles), this is sure to be an exceptional challenge. But take heart, gentlemen: If a crooked-gaited, Canadian horse ridden by a jockey with a bum leg can shoot out of nowhere and win the Kentucky Derby, nothing is impossible.
The Treasury Capital Assistance Program and the Supervisory Capital Assessment Program [Federal Reserve]
Banks Need $65 Billion in Capital [WSJ]
Read more posts by Jessica Pressler
Filed Under: banks, business, CEOh No!, stress tests
Today the Times tells us about an unexpectedly close relationship between two people: actor Ben Affleck and New York congressman Anthony Weiner. The pair met up while Affleck was researching his role in the recent movie State of Play. They immediately began to bicker when Affleck said he was considering running for the Massachusetts congressional seat of Michael E. Capuano, who turns out to be Weiner's D.C. roommate. “That’s a terrible idea,” Weiner “thundered.” “Don’t do that. Who told you to do that? You’ll get killed.” But somehow, from there, blossomed a friendship.
Times reporter Michael Barbaro interviewed both men about one another, and their giggly mutual self-impressedness reveals — we think — something more than just professional admiration. Let's strip down their quotes to the key parts:
Affleck: “There is something beautiful about a politician who is a real fighter.”
Weiner: “He was a very partisan Obama guy, and I was a very partisan Hillary guy. We really got into it.”
Affleck: “Anthony is a guy who hits so hard and so clean.”
Weiner: “We just spent too much time talking at each other.”
Affleck: “I have tried to sensitize him to things.”
Weiner: “Sometimes he just baits me on something related to Israel.”
Affleck: “Anthony is a bit more Likud, and I am a bit more Labor.”
Emphasis ours. Sweaty, heaving love between two heterosexual man-boys? All theirs.
The Curious Friendship of Weiner and Affleck [NYT]
Read more posts by Chris Rovzar
Filed Under: anthony weiner, ben affleck, celebrities, early and often, politics
David Lynch is taking a break from cow wrangling (and cow sculpting) and cooking quinoa to launch Interview Project. Lynch describes the black-and-white online video series, debuting June 1, as "a road-trip where people have been found and interviewed … hundreds of people." Focused on Americans from all over the country and shot in black-and-white, it looks like Lynch's return to sincerity. Call it The Straight Story: The Documentary Sequel. [Interview Project]
Read more posts by Logan Hill
Filed Under: David Lynch, movies
EVENTS
• Personalize your own Alex and Ani bracelets at Scoop's Mother's Day event. 861 Washington St., at 14th St. (212-691-1905); 1–4.
• Markus Ketty, the fashion director for the Nolcha network of emerging designers, is hosting a fashion party in honor of The Fashion Show on Bravo. Stop by to shop ecofriendly and unknown designers. Nolcha, 350 Fifth Ave., at 34th St., 59th fl. (888-NOLCHA1); 6–9.
• Join journalist Alix Strauss for cocktails, cupcakes, and a reading from her new book, Have I Got a Guy for You, at Kiehl's. Get a free lip gloss with purchase if you bring your mom (or daughter) along. 109 Third Ave., at 13th St. (212-677-3171); 5–7.
SALES
STARTING TODAY
• Get 50 to 70 percent off Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Damiani, Coach, and more jewelry. Expect a mob scene, because this kind of jewelry never goes on sale. Through 5/9. Carlton Hotel, 88 Madison Ave., nr. 28th St.; Th (10–8); F, S (10–6). Click here for more information.
• Thirty of the world's top jewelry brands, from Bulgari to Kingsley to Boucheron, will be 50 to 90 percent off at the Hush sale. Bulgari clip earrings with amethysts were $4,900 but are now $1,960. Through 5/9. Lighthouse International, 110 E. 60th St., nr. Lexington Ave. (646-442-1628); Th, F (9–7), S (10–5).
• Monica Botkier's shoes and bags are over 75 percent off. The James tote was $670 and is now $275, the Sasha duffle was $450 and is now $150, and the Bianca satchel was $450 and is now $100. Through 5/10. 172 Mercer St., at Houston St. (646-747-4149); Th (noon–8), F (11–8), S (11–7), Su (11–5).
• Past-season merchandise by Lewis Cho is up to 80 percent off, at $20 to $75. One day only. 225 W. 36th St., nr. Seventh Ave. (212-629-9329); 11–8.
• Twinkle by Wenlan is unloading spring 2009 clothes and jewelry for up to 70 percent off. Vintage-inspired floral dresses are $90 (originally $425), silk tops are $70 (originally $290), hand-knit slouchy dresses are $95 (originally $478), and accessories are $20 (originally $120). Through 5/8. 545 Eighth Ave., nr. 37th St., seventeenth fl.; Th (11–8), F (10–6).
• Jewels and toiletries by LAFCO and Guhran are up to 75 percent off wholesale prices. Through 5/8. 161 Sixth Ave., nr. Spring St.; Th (noon–5), F (10–5).
ENDING TODAY
• Kooba bags, Gryphon clothes, Milly samples, and Repetto flats are over 50 percent off at this week's Clothing Line sale. 261 W. 36th St., nr. Seventh Ave. (212-947-8748); M–Th (11–7).
• Cotton shirts by Italian men's brand Domenico Vacca were $590 but are only $159 at the sample sale. Pants that were $780 are now $140, and silk shirts that used to be $790 are now $230. 14 E. 60th St., nr. Madison Ave., Ste. 900 (212-920-1211); daily (10–6).
STARTING TOMORROW
• The luxury children's brand Kicokids is usually found in Barneys New York, but now, knitwear in sizes 2 through 12 is on sale for over 60 percent off. Through 5/9. Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave., nr. 15th St.; daily (10–7).
ENDING TOMORROW
• Delman's spring collection of shoes is up to 75 percent off. Sandals, gladiators, ballet flats, and more are $89 to $109 (snakeskin heels were $365 but are now $109). 145 W. 18th St., nr. Seventh Ave.; W, Th (10–7), F (10–3).
• Betsey Johnson evening dresses are $75, day dresses are $50, and sportswear is $35 at the designer's sample sale. Millennium Broadway Hotel, 145 W. 44th St., nr. Broadway, sixth fl. (212-789-7546); daily (10–8).
Read more posts by Sharon Clott
Filed Under: fashion calendar, sales, shopping
AP - Police in New York City say Kiefer Sutherland is expected to turn himself in for questioning about a fashion designer's claim that the actor head-butted him at a nightclub.
AP - Police in New York City say Kiefer Sutherland is expected to turn himself in for questioning about a fashion designer's claim that the actor head-butted him at a nightclub.
AP - Police in New York City say Kiefer Sutherland is expected to turn himself in for questioning about a fashion designer's claim that the actor head-butted him at a nightclub.
AP - Police in New York City say Kiefer Sutherland is expected to turn himself in for questioning about a fashion designer's claim that the actor head-butted him at a nightclub.
 TheImproper.com | Howard: Jobs and Hannah Montana CNN - Clark Howard By Clark Howard ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- I have seen the face of unemployment and job opportunity in our nation ... and it belongs to Hannah Montana. Miley Cyrus: Sushi, Justin and Song Miley Cyrus: 'I'll be a virgin till marriage' |
AFP - Star French couturier Pierre Cardin, 86, was on Thursday released from a hospital in the Mediterranean city of Marseille after a 48-hour stay caused by high blood pressure, his press service said.
 Straits Times | Sotheby's Loss Widens as Global Recession Crimps Art Market Bloomberg - Philip Boroff By Philip Boroff May 7 (Bloomberg) -- Sotheby's, the publicly traded auction house, said its first-quarter loss widened after the global recession undermined demand for high-end works of art. Christie's sale of Impressionists, moderns solid Christie's Bests Sotheby's With $102.7 Million Sale |
 MiamiHerald.com | Oprah and KFC are grilling, baby S2Smagazine.com We don't know who came up with the idea, but KFC (aka Kentucky Fried Chicken) now sells grilled meat. Huh? In addition to menu favorites like original recipe, boneless and extra crispy, patrons can now get a healthier bird. KFC coupon customers ask: Where's the chicken? Oprah's KFC offer sparks a major squawk |
 South Asian Women's Forum | Miss California Runner-Up Already in Role Model Mode...Just in Case E! Online - Natalie Finn, Whitney English So apparently this scandal-lite could have been avoided if... Carrie Prejean had just bared all? Miss California USA runner-up Tami Farrell—who lost out to Prejean for a chance to compete for the 2009 Miss USA title—tells E! Carrie Prejean Photos 'Stunned' Pageant Officials Miss California Topless Photo #2 Out As Runner Up Ready To Take ... |
 New York Daily News | EXCLUSIVE: Farrah's Father Visiting to Say Goodbye Radar Online In a heartbreaking development, RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned that Farrah Fawcett's 91-year-old father James is flying into Los Angeles to say goodbye to her. Ryan O'Neal Heartbroken Over Farrah Fawcett's Condition Fawcett Treatment "Ended" |
So apparently this scandal-lite could have been avoided if... Carrie Prejean had just bared all?
All her past indiscretions, that is.
Miss California USA runner-up Tami...
 E! Online | Abdul is no longer taking those awful pills CDInsight It appears that "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul has overcome her drug addiction she has denied for many years now, says Bostonherald. 'American Idol': 3 men, no little lady American Idol 8: Top 4, Live Results (Page 1/3) |
• Natalie Portman takes a break from her busy MakingOf promotions to sit down with Zach Galifianakis for a fake interview that's really only funny because it makes us think of...
AP - Michael Jackson's publicist and general manager has filed a $44 million lawsuit against the pop star claiming he has not paid her for deals she's made.
 E! Online | Kiefer Sutherland blows his top at New York party Chicago Sun-Times - Bill Zwecker BY BILL ZWECKER Sun-Times Columnist 'I always knew Kiefer had a short fuse, but man -- nobody saw this coming,'' said a guest at the New York party Monday night where Kiefer Sutherland allegedly head-butted fashion designer Jack McCollough of the ... Kiefer Sutherland to surrender to NYPD today 24: Kiefer Sutherland May Have Violated Probation After Alleged ... |
 E! Online | "Idol" boots last woman singer, Allison Iraheta Washington Post LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Allison Iraheta was eliminated by "American Idol" viewers on Wednesday in a season-high tally of 64 million votes that ousted the last surviving woman singer and left three finalists standing. 'American Idol' Rock Week Makes Us Scream On Like Danny Gokey Ann Powers: What we lost when we lost Allison |
E! Online - And then there were three. But with more than 60 million votes cast, were we left with a truly great three?
And then there were three. But with more than 60 million votes cast, were we left with a truly great three?
Allison Iraheta, musically wise beyond her 17 years but still kind of a...
The countdown to the Incident (and the Lost season finale) has begun, and it's not yet clear whether the Losties will prevent the Incident, cause it or merely suffer through it as victims. But...
So much is happening in this year's finale of Grey's Anatomy. Meredith and Derek are possibly getting married, George has a huge decision to make and Izzie's close to kicking the...
Kiefer Sutherland may have mistaken himself for Jack Bauer, but to Los Angeles authorities, he's still Kiefer Sutherland, two-time DUI offender.
If the actor is slapped with an...
You gotta hand it to Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine and J.J. Abrams: The Star Trek stars and their mastermind have been talking and talking about this new flick for years. And we've been there,...
E! Online - The people Michael Jackson does business with won't stop till they get enough.
UPDATE: TheDirty.com blogger Nik Richie tells E! News that, despite Carrie Prejean's claim that there's only one controversial photo of her floating around, he can confirm that his website...
Fan just doesn't do it justice.
What do you call a person whose passion for entertainment rivals the hunger Rob Pattinson has for Kristen Stewart (in Twilight, we mean!). You know,...
AP - Capsule reviews of films opening this week:
AP - "Rudo y Cursi" is enormously hackneyed in concept yet surprisingly enjoyable in execution, thanks to some amusing, surreal details and the genuine camaraderie of Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal.
As monied housewives have seized upon the confessional essay as a means of expressing their feelings about the Greatest Depression, finance professionals have taken it upon themselves to resurrect a genre of letters that had, in the good times, languished: the "Fuck You" letter. Hedge-funder Andrew Lahde set the bar high with his fiery resignation note at the start of the crisis back in October, then was ably one-upped by AIG financial-products head Jake DeSantis, who quit in the middle of a furor by penning a poison-pen letter to CEO Edward Liddy which he then had printed in the pages of the Times. Now Clifford Asness, the filthy-stinking-rich quant behind AQR Capital Management, has one-upped them all by addressing his complaints directly to the president of the United States. Though Asness was not involved in the Chrysler situation himself, he was appalled by Obama's treatment of his colleagues, and felt he had to make a stand. The letter, which first appeared on Zero Hedge, has since been making the rounds, since, as Asness himself says, "for some reason I was not born with the common sense to keep it to myself." And it's quite a letter!
Unafraid In Greenwich Connecticut
Clifford S. Asness
Managing and Founding Principal
AQR Capital Management, LLCThe President has just harshly castigated hedge fund managers for being unwilling to take his administration’s bid for their Chrysler bonds. He called them “speculators” who were “refusing to sacrifice like everyone else” and who wanted “to hold out for the prospect of an unjustified taxpayer-funded bailout.”
The responses of hedge fund managers have been, appropriately, outrage, but generally have been anonymous for fear of going on the record against a powerful President (an exception, though still in the form of a “group letter”, was the superb note from “The Committee of Chrysler Non-TARP Lenders” some of the points of which I echo here, and a relatively few firms, like Oppenheimer, that have publicly defended themselves). Furthermore, one by one the managers and banks are said to be caving to the President’s wishes out of justifiable fear.
I run an approximately twenty billion dollar money management firm that offers hedge funds as well as public mutual funds and unhedged traditional investments. My company is not involved in the Chrysler situation, but I am still aghast at the President's comments (of course these are my own views not those of my company). Furthermore, for some reason I was not born with the common sense to keep it to myself, though my title should more accurately be called "Not Afraid Enough" as I am indeed fearful writing this... It’s really a bad idea to speak out. Angering the President is a mistake and, my views will annoy half my clients. I hope my clients will understand that I’m entitled to my voice and to speak it loudly, just as they are in this great country. I hope they will also like that I do not think I have the right to intentionally “sacrifice” their money without their permission.
Here's a shock. When hedge funds, pension funds, mutual funds, and individuals, including very sweet grandmothers, lend their money they expect to get it back. However, they know, or should know, they take the risk of not being paid back. But if such a bad event happens it usually does not result in a complete loss. A firm in bankruptcy still has assets. It’s not always a pretty process. Bankruptcy court is about figuring out how to most fairly divvy up the remaining assets based on who is owed what and whose contracts come first. The process already has built-in partial protections for employees and pensions, and can set lenders' contracts aside in order to help the company survive, all of which are the rules of the game lenders know before they lend. But, without this recovery process nobody would lend to risky borrowers. Essentially, lenders accept less than shareholders (means bonds return less than stocks) in good times only because they get more than shareholders in bad times.
The above is how it works in America, or how it’s supposed to work. The President and his team sought to avoid having Chrysler go through this process, proposing their own plan for re-organizing the company and partially paying off Chrysler’s creditors. Some bond holders thought this plan unfair. Specifically, they thought it unfairly favored the United Auto Workers, and unfairly paid bondholders less than they would get in bankruptcy court. So, they said no to the plan and decided, as is their right, to take their chances in the bankruptcy process. But, as his quotes above show, the President thought they were being unpatriotic or worse.
Let’s be clear, it is the job and obligation of all investment managers, including hedge fund managers, to get their clients the most return they can. They are allowed to be charitable with their own money, and many are spectacularly so, but if they give away their clients’ money to share in the “sacrifice”, they are stealing. Clients of hedge funds include, among others, pension funds of all kinds of workers, unionized and not. The managers have a fiduciary obligation to look after their clients’ money as best they can, not to support the President, nor to oppose him, nor otherwise advance their personal political views. That’s how the system works. If you hired an investment professional and he could preserve more of your money in a financial disaster, but instead he decided to spend it on the UAW so you could “share in the sacrifice”, you would not be happy.
Let’s quickly review a few side issues.
The President's attempted diktat takes money from bondholders and gives it to a labor union that delivers money and votes for him. Why is he not calling on his party to "sacrifice" some campaign contributions, and votes, for the greater good? Shaking down lenders for the benefit of political donors is recycled corruption and abuse of power.
Let’s also mention only in passing the irony of this same President begging hedge funds to borrow more to purchase other troubled securities. That he expects them to do so when he has already shown what happens if they ask for their money to be repaid fairly would be amusing if not so dangerous. That hedge funds might not participate in these programs because of fear of getting sucked into some toxic demagoguery that ends in arbitrary punishment for trying to work with the Treasury is distressing. Some useful programs, like those designed to help finance consumer loans, won't work because of this irresponsible hectoring.
Last but not least, the President screaming that the hedge funds are looking for an unjustified taxpayer-funded bailout is the big lie writ large. Find me a hedge fund that has been bailed out. Find me a hedge fund, even a failed one, that has asked for one. In fact, it was only because hedge funds have not taken government funds that they could stand up to this bullying. The TARP recipients had no choice but to go along. The hedge funds were singled out only because they are unpopular, not because they behaved any differently from any other ethical manager of other people's money. The President’s comments here are backwards and libelous. Yet, somehow I don’t think the hedge funds will be following ACORN’s lead and trucking in a bunch of paid professional protestors soon. Hedge funds really need a community organizer.
This is America. We have a free enterprise system that has worked spectacularly for us for two hundred plus years. When it fails it fixes itself. Most importantly, it is not an owned lackey of the oval office to be scolded for disobedience by the President.
I am ready for my “personalized” tax rate now.
Read more posts by Jessica Pressler
Filed Under: Belles Lettres, business, cliff asness, finance, hedge funds, taking it up the asness, White Men With Money, You've Got Hate Mail
Yesterday, Black Lips released their Drop I Hold EP, featuring a reworking of the title track with a verse from GZA. You might recall the pairing from their maligned SXSW show, where the band tried to back GZA on “Living in the World Today” and “Shimmy Shimmy Ya.” We’re glad to report that this “Drop I Hold” remix is a much better idea, seeing as it already has what one might technically define as “rapping” from front man Cole Alexander. The whole thing never rises above the level of well-intentioned curio, but Alexander’s chant-rhymes are sort of mesmerizing; “Atomic bomb, Vietnam / Blacklips.com and Islam!” is definitely our favorite (especially because the band’s site is actually black dash lips.com). Either way, Cole is the worst emcee GZA has rhymed with since Streetlife (sorry, Streetlife!). Check out the new video for the original version of the song after the jump.
Read more posts by Amos Barshad
Filed Under: black lips, gza, music, right-click
In Oprah Winfrey's lovingly written tribute to Michelle Obama in "The Time 100," Time magazine's issue about the world's most influential people, she talks about going to the Obamas' house for dinner after the 2004 DNC speech and expecting takeout, but getting home-cooked linguine with shrimp and vegetables. It's a sweet anecdote about people taking the time to do things right, the old-fashioned way — which is not quite the way Oprah herself prepared her Time essay. See, the talk-show host doesn't have time for computers. Woman is busy. And if she's going to bang out a 200-word tribute to the second-most-powerful woman in the free world, she's got to use a mobile device. "I was doing it on a BlackBerry," Oprah confessed. "No!" we gasped. "Yes!" she howled. She went on, a small group of eavesdroppers gathering 'round at Jazz at Lincoln Center to hear how this nail-biter would unfold.
"I'd been saving little notes on my BlackBerry. You know, I'd think of something and I'd put it on BlackBerry in the memo section," she explained. "And then I went to hit the wrong button and the whole thing deleted! I went to hit 'Save' and instead I hit ... 'Oh my God! Oh my God! It's gone!' That ever happened to you? And then you can't remember — not one sentence you wrote." Did Oprah panic? No. Did Oprah call in some underpaid freelance joke writers? No. Did Oprah have the Obamas declare a state of national emergency because, you know, she's Oprah and she can? No. But she did have to start over. "I couldn't even think for two days," she said, sighing, weary at the memory. "I couldn't even, like, think of a sentence. I stared at the BlackBerry, then I hit every button trying to make it come back. I hit 'Options.' I did everything!" Luckily, Oprah has a fine, fine man by her side. "Stedman was like, 'Well, the reason that happened is obviously you're going to write something better.'" Oprah was not convinced. "And I go, 'I don't know the reason why that happened. I can't think of a word I said.'" Fortunately for us, Oprah does not give up. Read the fruits of her hard-fought struggle with a rebellious BlackBerry over at Time.
View our Party Lines slideshow.
Read more posts by Jada Yuan
Filed Under: blackberries, blackberry, michelle obama, oprah winfrey, party lines, politics, time 100, time magazine
No problem! Some lucky intern will stay busy post-fest by updating this website with info on which films have been picked up and where you can see them. [Tribeca Film Festival]
Read more posts by Jenny Miller
Filed Under: Following Up, movies, tribeca film festival
At the Met gala, Donatella Versace told the Times, “Models are not just faces and bodies. They have brains.” And if Lily Cole can't prove that by being a full-time student at Cambridge, Kate Moss just might — by writing a book. Virgin Books honcho Sir Richard Branson has confirmed that the 35-year-old supermodel will write a "no-holds-barred account of her life," according to the Telegraph.
It is thought the book will reveal intimate details about her alleged drug abuse, her break-up from Babyshambles rocker Pete Doherty and recent allegations linking her with Eve Berlin from American band Living Things last year while apart from current boyfriend Jamie Hince.
Sir Publishing is reportedly giving Kate £1 million for the tome (no word on what the ghostwriter's cut is). Obviously, when this comes out we will read it, even though we feel like we already know exactly what it will say, given the feverish accounts by the London papers of every step the woman takes. See Kate smoke a cigarette; see Kate go to the pub; see Kate wear something silly; see entire world copy Kate; see Kate laugh at entire world; see Kate experiment; see entire world freak out; see Kate not give a damn; see Kate on a yacht; see Kate sell gobs of clothes; see Kate on a yacht; see Kate rule the world; see Kate on a yacht; see Kate laugh at entire world. The end!
Kate Moss is writing an 'exciting' autobiography, says Sir Richard Branson [Telegraph UK]
Kate Moss to Pen Autobiography—Our Exclusive Fictional Preview! [Refinery 29]
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: kate moss, model tracker, models
In today’s media roundup, Daily Intel's favorite HuffPo columnist is forced to resign, and the Boston Globe finally makes a deal, though we're not sure what it is yet.
• Betsy Perry, the Huffington Post columnist who rose to prominence on this blog as the incandescent Voice of the Greatest Depression, has been forced to resign from her volunteer day job as the head of the New York City Commission on Women’s Issues, after a column of hers that made some ill-advised comments about Mexico raised hackles in the media and among the mayor's opponents. "I am horrendously embarrassed and apologetic," Perry told the Times. We hope this doesn't mean she puts down her quill. You're not a true artist till they hate you, Betsy! [NYT]
• The struggling Boston Globe agreed to a deal with the Boston Newspaper Guild, but details of the deal will not be officially released until Thursday. [Boston Globe via Romenesko]
• Television Week will run online-only starting in June. [Ad Age]
• The executive vice-president and group publishing director of Hachette Filipacchi’s Men’s Enthusiast Network, Nicholas Matarazzo, is leaving the company after almost three decades. [Media Ink/NYP]
• Andrew Wilkes, Allure’s managing editor, is leaving after ten years. [NYP]
• News Corp. is working on a company- and world-wide system to charge for online content. [Daily Beast via Mediabistro]
• Huffington Post contributer Bill Mann blames CNN’s poor ratings on its “annoying personalities” and suggests firing a list of five of them. But why limit that discussion to CNN? Which media personalities do you find most irritating? [HuffPo]
Read more posts by Kathryn H. Cusimano
Filed Under: allure, andrew wilke, betsy perry, conde nast, Hachette Filipacchi, huffington post, Media Deathwatch, Men’s Enthusiast Network, new york times, tv week
Expectations for J.J. Abrams's don't-call-it-a-reboot Star Trek couldn't be bigger. But let's be realistic: This is not a sure thing. The film is a blast — and we hope it's a hit. But it's a reboot of a franchise that's become little more than a punch line to anyone over the age of 25, and simply isn't a firsthand reference for anyone younger. The film has no bankable stars. And Wolverine opened just last weekend. But Nikki Finke is relaying Fandango's announcement that 81 percent of their online ticket sales are for Star Trek.
The problem? Finke reported very similar strong online numbers for Watchmen in March, correctly highlighting that the film was "upstaging 300" in online ticket sales. Watchmen, of course, underperformed estimates. It earned 15 million less than 300, and its competition was Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience — not Wolverine one week after the year's biggest opening weekend so far.
So, let's remember that the real reason Movietickets.com and Fandango leak these numbers is to advertise their service, exaggerate scarcity, and make it sound like You Must Go Online and Pay Us Two Dollars Right Now! They're not exactly audited. And why would a film like Watchmen or Star Trek track disproportionately well in online ticket sales? It's the geeks, stupid. The folks buying tickets online are the cult fans who absolutely must see a film first. Fandango says 10 percent of polled ticket buyers are planning to show up "in some kind of Star Trek costume." Ten percent of the audience in costumes? Well, there just aren't enough pointy ears in the world to make it a blockbuster hit.
Now, we're not saying we expect a Watchmen-like disappointment (Star Trek is PG-13, for starters). We hope Abrams lives long and prospers in his quest for global geek domination — and we expect Trek to do well. It's just worth remembering that this stuff isn't easy. Anything can happen. The fun of this big opening weekend is that mystery that Abrams loves to talk about. And that's why you can bet that Paramount will be nervous until people start buying tickets in person — and while wearing regular clothes.
Read more posts by Logan Hill
Filed Under: box office, j.j. abrams, movies, star trek, trekkies
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: leanne marshall, Make It Work, project runway, tim gunn
You might not realize this, but even the official newspaper of the Vatican, L'Osservatore Romano, has a film critic. The paper just released its review of Angels & Demons, in which it proclaims that the film offers "more than two hours of harmless entertainment, which hardly affects the genius and mystery of Christianity." We're pretty sure their review would've turned out differently if they had witnessed the nefarious and sacrilegious ways in which Sony has been marketing the film. [AP]
Read more posts by Mark Graham
Filed Under: Angels & Demons, L'Osservatore Romano, Religion, Tom Hanks, Vatican
Just over a year ago, police on Staten Island busted an Albanian robbery clan believed to be responsible for a string of nearly twenty nonviolent but armed robberies. The trio was known to wear black outfits and face masks and carry nunchakus as they stealthily invaded homes in the upscale Todt Hill and Grymes Hill neighborhoods. Once the group was deported, it was thought that the ninja robberies were over for good. But not so! The Staten Island Advance reported this morning that Russ and Delores Irary spotted another ninja burglar at work — in their own home:
Alerted by the incessant growling of their pint-sized "hero" pooch, the Emerson Hill couple said they came face to face with a black-suited crook Monday night, who escaped from their mansion by leaping from a second-story balcony and exiting the back door without missing a beat. "He was a ninja in a black suit, only his eyes were showing," said Russ Irarey, 55. "He got to that railing and just made a jump like you wouldn't believe." The masked and gloved burglar was clad head to toe in black. After vaulting a banister and clearing a flight of stairs, the thief darted through the kitchen and out a sliding door — even taking care to close it behind him.
This story, of course, is leaving out a crucial point: what kind of small dog it was that scared the ninja away. If it was a dark-colored dog, it was probably a regular burglar. But if it was a white-colored, fluffy one like a Bichon, then that's a different story. Everyone knows that small white animals terrify ninjas. Or, wait. Is that mummies? We forget.
Brazen leap has Staten Island family describing 'ninja' burglary [SILive.com]
Read more posts by Chris Rovzar
Filed Under: crazytown, crime, neighborhood news, ninjas, staten island
As if we're somehow to believe that there's money left in the world that Rockstar Games doesn't already have, the company behind Grand Theft Auto has just unveiled the trailer for Red Dead Redemption, its latest console-based murder simulator, this one set in the violent Wild West. In it, you play as John Marston, a "former outlaw sent across the American frontier to help bring the rule of law." Or shoot people and sleep with prostitutes, as usual, more likely. We're sold. [Kotaku]
Read more posts by Lane Brown
Filed Under: grand theft auto, red dead redemption, rockstar games, video games
Filene's Basement has been saved! The chain recently filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but some people with cash to throw around are buying it for $22 million. Crown Acquisitions partnered with Chetrit Group to buy 17 of the company's 26 stores. Chetrit Group doesn't have much experience with retail companies, but they're confident in their abilities, the Basement, and Manhattan as a retail market. But most important, they are confident in the crappiness of the economy, which should make running Filene's pretty easy. The luxury castoffs the Basement sells are plentiful in this economy as merchandise at Saks and Barneys goes unsold. So the merchandise Filene's wrangles for its sales floors should be pretty good. In fact, so confident in the crappiness of the economy are the new owners, they may even open another outpost on the Upper East Side. This is either a sign of the apocalypse or a sign that the selection at Filene's is about to get that good. Now they just need to figure out how to make shopping there not feel as depressing as a hospital visit. That thing called interior decorating would be a good place to start.
FILENE'S NEW OWNER HOPING TO ESCAPE FROM THE BASEMENT [NYP]
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: economy, filenes basement, Recession Store-ies, retail, shopping
Yesterday, as you may or may not know, the SEC accused Bruce Bent, the founder of Reserve Primary Fund and his son, Bruce Bent II, of fraud, alleging they misled investors, ratings firms, and trustees when their money-market fund broke the buck during the panic back in September. Our knowledge of what the suit is about ends there, because when we tried to read about the travails of the father and son team in The Wall Street Journal today, our eyes just kept wandering to the illustrations that accompanied the story, because: What in the name of Jerry Garcia happened here? Really. Look at them. How did this long-haired free spirit end up throwing away his dreams of touring with Rusted Root and joining the family business? Was there a lady involved? Was Young Bruce planning to run off with a woman called Flower, to Vermont, where they would live off the land? But then Bruce the Elder intervened, by secretly bribing Flower or — no — by hiring a private investigator to look into her past, whereupon he discovered a dark secret, one so dark that she would rather leave her beloved forever than tell him, for she felt it would break his heart more if he knew the truth? Did Young Bruce's heart then harden, and he has never loved again? You may say that these are inconsequential questions, friends, when people's 401(k)s are at stake, but mark our words: There is an untold story here. Uncover it, and you have your case.*
SEC Sues Reserve's Bent and Son [WSJ]
*We don't know what we're talking about either but it sounds right.
Read more posts by Jessica Pressler
Filed Under: business, finance fiction, Mysteries, reserve primary fund, sleuthing
Liv Tyler's black Stella McCartney dress with lace insets exposed quite a bit of skin at Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People gala, where Michelle Obama was also a guest.
Would you show so much at a formal event attended by the First Lady?
Read more posts by Sharon Clott
Filed Under: liv tyler, look of the day, Michelle Obama, Time 100 gala
Wondering how your favorite television shows have been performing in the Nielsen ratings over the last few days? Surprise, so are network-television executives! Apparently there's been some sort of massive system fail over at Nielsen Media Research — they're blaming it on "server issues" — that has prevented the ratings giant from compiling and releasing their proprietary ratings data since Sunday night. The timing of this breakdown has network suits in a tizzy, as this is typically the time of year when they're analyzing ratings data even more closely than usual as they attempt to determine which shows should be renewed and which should go off to that great scrap heap in the sky. Nielsen hasn't given any estimates as to when the data from Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday night will be available, although they did release a statement saying that "We’re working around the clock to get the TV ratings back on schedule." This is bad news for just about everyone except Ben Silverman, who has presumably made it through three peaceful nights without being interrupted by angry phone calls from Jeff Zucker demanding to know why the network came in last place that day.
TV Networks Frustrated by Lengthy Ratings Delay [TV Decoder/NYT]
Read more posts by Mark Graham
Filed Under: Monopolies, Nielsen ratings, TV
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
When a company like Cartier celebrates being on Fifth Avenue for 100 years, expect nothing short of over-the-top fabulousness. To kick off the festivities, the house hosted a star-studded party (Demi Moore, Justin Timberlake, and Kate Hudson were in attendance). But for the entire month of May, Cartier is showcasing 100 pieces belonging to some of the most recognizable names in American and European history. It's not every day the public can see a free, museum-worthy jewelry bonanza. But if trekking through the touristy-throngs on Fifth isn't in the cards, here's a glimpse of some of the stunners on exhibit and the rich people who owned them.
Read more posts by Aja Mangum
Filed Under: barbara hutton, cartier, Countess Mona Bismarck, Daisy Fellowes, Duchess of Windsor, gloria swanson, jackie kennedy, jewelry, Pretty Shiny Things, slideshow
Name: David Rockwell
Age: 52
Neighborhood: Tribeca
Occupation: Architect and designer known for some of New York's iconic spaces including W Hotels, Nobu, the Marketplace at the new Jet Blue terminal, and the upcoming Imagination Playground, which breaks ground in downtown Manhattan on Thursday, May 7.
Who's your favorite New Yorker, living or dead, real or fictional?
Stanford White. I grew up in Mexico, and from that vantage point, White was the ultimate New York architect.
What's the best meal you've eaten in New York?
Once a month or so I eat at Nobu Next Door with my wife. We love the rock shrimp with ponzu, cod miso, and tuna sashimi salad. Eating out should be a "mini-vacation" — and this restaurant makes this possible for us.
In one sentence, what do you actually do all day in your job?
Sketch, collaborate, connect, brainstorm, conceptualize, problem-solve, mediate, and — when no one's looking — pray.
Would you still live here on a $35,000 salary?
When I moved here from architecture school, I made a lot less than that and had a great time. It would be a little tough now with two kids. But I can't really imagine living anywhere else.
What's the last thing you saw on Broadway?
I just saw Billy Elliot — it was fantastic.
Do you give money to panhandlers?
I have on occasion.
What's your drink?
A margarita — it brings back many memories of growing up in Mexico.
How often do you prepare your own meals?
My family and I spend our weekends in our country house in New Paltz, and I relax by playing chef for them and our friends.
What's your favorite medication?
Aleve. I don't know what I would do without it for my back, especially on or after longer flights. When out of town, room service and a great bottle of wine are a good remedy as well.
What's hanging above your sofa?
For my 40th birthday, my staff made a collage of fabrics that represented our projects and what we had accomplished. It was a wonderfully original present, and all these many years later, it's still there.
How much is too much to spend on a haircut?
Everyone should have one or two things that they indulge in, whether that's a haircut, last-minute opera tickets, or hardcover books. So I'm not one to judge what everyone chooses.
When's bedtime?
Somewhere between 11:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. — always after the kids go to sleep, and then it just depends on how much I need to unwind or how much work needs to be done.
Which do you prefer, the old Times Square or the new Times Square?
Times Square is — has always been, and will always be — in a state of constant flux. That's what makes it such a vibrant, supercharged, eternally fascinating public space.
What do you think of Donald Trump?
An amazing original.
What do you hate most about living in New York?
Parking.
Who is your mortal enemy?
Off the top of my head, I can't think of any enemies, let alone mortal ones.
When's the last time you drove a car?
I drive most weekends when my family and I head to New Paltz. I like driving fast on the deserted, curvy, dirt roads. Suddenly the country squire turns into a stock-car racer.
How has the Wall Street crash affected you?
It is kind of humbling. I think it has created more perspective, a greater appreciation for the past, and a sense that we are not immune to a crisis. Fortunately we are still busy and I'm very grateful for that.
Times, Post, or Daily News?
All of them, and more! I have always been a print junkie, and I loathe the day when the only way I can read a newspaper is by turning on my Kindle.
Where do you go to be alone?
When I designed my loft in Tribeca, I created a rotating chair perched on my roof that provides a 360-degree view of downtown Manhattan. It is the perfect outlet for unwinding and relaxing. Outdoor space is essential for me. It provides a freedom I cannot imagine living without.
What makes someone a New Yorker?
New Yorkers crave excitement, love drama, have the urge to astonish and love being astonished. We wouldn't want it any other way.
Read more posts by Vanita Salisbury
Filed Under: 21 Questions, david rockwell
The Playlist uncovered this delightful story on Monday, though we (and the Guardian) are just getting to it: Were you aware that Bad Seeds leader Nick Cave was once asked by friend Russell Crowe to write a sequel to 2000 gladiator drama Gladiator? It's true, we guess!
This blog (in a post from last year) gives a detailed, predictably hilarious synopsis of the script, which elegantly solves the problem of Crowe's character's death at the end of the original film by reincarnating him and making him unkillable (he lives to fight in the Crusades, World War II, and Vietnam), and ends with Maximus washing his hands in a Pentagon bathroom before walking into a war room.
According to Gladiator director Ridley Scott, "We tried [to go with Cave's script]. Russell didn't want to let it go, obviously, because it worked very well. When I say 'worked very well', I don't refer to success. I mean, as a piece it works very well. Storytelling, [it] works brilliantly." But someone at DreamWorks got cold feet, evidently, and it was never produced. If Russell Crowe wants to call us, though, we'll totally give him $100 million to make this thing.
Nick Cave Wrote A Script For A Russell Crowe-Commissioned 'Gladiator 2'? [Playlist]
Read more posts by Lane Brown
Filed Under: dreamworks, gladiator 2, movies, nick cave, russell crowe, travesties
MAKEUP
• The L'Oréal factory in Libramont, Belgium, is reportedly trying to decrease 50 percent of carbon emissions by 2015. So they're installing a system that will generate electricity by capturing methane from the waste of cows on a nearby farm. Basically, the factory will run on cow poop. [Daily Beauty Reporter/Allure]
• Louis Vuitton's studio director Paul Helbers created a guide to menswear for 10 Men magazine. In it, male models wear glitter makeup in pink, blue, green, and silver. Glitter for all! [Pipeline/Refinery 29]
• The Cassette Society showed "disco brows" at Australian Fashion Week, fashioned by gluing two rows of beads over the models' eyebrows. Like we always say, when you don't have a disco ball handy, turn your face into one. [PSFK]
• Sephora isn't carrying Vincent Longo products anymore. Tears. [Living in Narnia via Racked]
HAIR
• Model Raquel Zimmermann is now a blonde. We blame summer. [Pipeline/Refinery 29]
Read more posts by Sharon Clott
Filed Under: beauty, beauty marks, hair, louis vuitton, makeup, raquel zimmermann
Gossip Girl star Jessica Szohr will make her major feature-film debut next spring in a big-budget film alongside Oscar winner Richard Dreyfuss, Oscar nominee Elisabeth Shue, and Golden Globe winner Ving Rhames. Sounds great, right? After all, even her more famous castmates like Ed Westwick, Chace Crawford, and Leighton Meester have only been in mainly B-movies (no offense, Leighton! We loved The Haunting of Sorority Row!). In fact, only Blake Lively (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants), Connor Paolo (Alexander), and Taylor Momsen (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) have been in bigger-budget movies than the project in which Szohr will be starring. Unfortunately, she's going to get eaten by piranhas.
How do we know? Oh, Jessica, allow us to walk through the logic for you:
1. The movie in which she's set to star is called Piranhas 3-D.
2. It's a movie about piranhas.
3. It's in 3-D.
4. It's directed by Alexandre Aja, who is best known for directing The Hills Have Eyes, a movie where nearly everyone who is not a baby or child is killed, eaten, or anally raped by mutants.
5. Like the original 1978 cult classic, "the movie centers on a lakeside town being terrorized by prehistoric man-eating razor-toothed fish." Sorry, Jessica, but if you can't resist an omnivorous Bass, you're going to be useless in front of a prehistoric man-eating piranha.
6. There are at least three more-famous people in the movie. By the laws of horror-film physics, she has to die.
7. Szohr will play "Kelly, a hot young townie caught up in the excitement of co-eds who have descended upon the area for spring break." Um, come on.
Yeah, she's got no chance. Jennifer Lopez's career survived Anaconda, but that was because her character survived it as well. Jessica, we're rooting for you — but if the piranhas can walk on land, we're not holding our breath.
Gossip Girl Coming to You in 3-D [E!]
Read more posts by Chris Rovzar
Filed Under: gossip girl, jessica szohr, movies, the greatest show of our time
Matthew Williamson will not shrink back and let you forget about him just because his H&M line has already hit stores. Hence H&M's premiere of a flashy new commercial for his diffusion line, which feels more like an acid trip than a television advertisement. Fembot models escape boring scenarios like riding pink horses, lying in bed with a man, and standing next to a pool to flock to Matthew's side after he emerges from a neon, glowing volcano. It's like a neon-hued cross between The Golden Compass and Men in Black. Does this mean Matthew Williamson is the Will Smith of fashion? Because that would explain so much. Daria Werbowy also stars.
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: advertising, Cracked Out, daria werbowy, diffusion lines, hm, matthew williamson, models, video
Tyra Banks
Ashley Olsen
Lake Bell
Cindy Crawford and the Versaces
January Jones
Melania Trump
Madonna
Mary-Kate Olsen
Lara Stone
Renee Zelwegger
Bradley Cooper
Andre Leon-Talley
Anne Hathaway
Shalom Harlow
Jack White & Karen Ellison
Rihanna (sorry)
Michelle Alves
Anja Rubik
Kate Moss
Jessica Biel
Rory Culkin
Rachel Weisz
Leighton Meester
Heidi Klum (for looking so good)
John Galliano
Kate Beckinsale
Madonna
Ed Westwick
Kirsten Dunst
Stamford, Connecticut, has been forced into reduced circumstances owing to the downturn, today's Wall Street Journal soberly informs us. Unemployment in the city the mayor once deemed the "capital of financial services" hit 7 percent in March, and though this is lower than the national average, most of these jobs belonged to finance professionals, and we do believe it hurts them more. Plus, office vacancy rates have doubled, and developers "have shelved luxury projects like a Ritz-Carlton hotel." It is grim, people. Which is why Stamford has decided to sell its soul.
To weather the downturn, city officials know they can no longer bank only on banks. Instead, they are looking west — to Hollywood. Stamford recently has landed several deals to bring production of television shows to the city, adding to the city's cadre of media and entertainment-related businesses. It already is home to both World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. and Comcast Corp.'s Versus sports channel, and the city has been used as a location for scenes in films including "Rachel Getting Married" and "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2."
Sure. This is how it starts. You get a few lucky breaks. Some small parts in big pictures. You're riding high. You're gonna to be a star! And the next thing you know, you're taking off your shirt so a guy called Tito can hold an ice cube up to your nipples. We've seen this before, and it isn't pretty. Get out before it's too late, Stamford. Go back to college. Learn a little something about alternative energy.
Trouble in 'Wall Street North' Spurs Search for New Identity [WSJ]
Read more posts by Jessica Pressler
Filed Under: business, connecticut, hedge funds, stamford, The Greatest Depression
Vogue editor Hamish Bowles blogged about his night at the Met gala: "Kanye West (later joined by Rihanna) was nothing short of sensational; it was impossible not to get up and dance. The atmosphere was what Mrs. Wrightsman would call 'peppy,' and what I might be tempted to describe as electric. This was, after all, Marc Jacobs’s party, and you know it was only ever going to be the most extraordinary Fun, capital F. The scene in the ladies’ room was The Scene, with Josh Hartnett and sundry designers hanging out with, let’s face it, some of the most beautiful girls (of every generation) on the planet." [Hamishsphere/Vogue]
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: hamish bowles, Hard Partying, met gala, vogue
AP - The most astounding move in "Love n' Dancing" doesn't occur on the dance floor. Rather, it's the fact that this movie is appearing in theaters at all, and not going straight to cable where it belongs.
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America's greatest songwriter talks religion, bootlegs and the
Sixties
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Link: 
has a voice. It's almost pleasant sounding! And his hair We're just sorry Noop Dawg wasn't around to participate... because that would have been hilarious in all the right ways.
But onto the recap. Let's just say that even God didn't want this episode to happen, but a broken set/sign of impending doom isn't going to shut down this cash cow.
Adam Lambert "Whole Lotta Love": Oh, Adam. We were so hoping you would sing Queen this week. Instead, you went for the Zep's jugular. First of all, kudos to the AI make-up woman who used her East Indian foundation pallette to make this boy tan. But as "great" of a rock song as this is (not my favorite), Adam is still doing his musical theater thang up there. It's like Dreamgirls meets Led Zeppelin, a veritable "Rock Band I Am Telling You." Because just when you think it gets a little too rocky, Lambert gives a little shoulder shimmy and reminds us why we love him. I only wish he would have sung a song that, well, I wanted to listen to on my Ipod. I think I'll save my precious 99 cents this week for something more enjoyable... like a toasted bagey n' cc, or a lotto ticket. Meanwhile, Kara was rocking her Glambert look tonight, and called him a "Rock God", replete with devil horns thrown in the air. Does she really have to come back next season? RATING 7/10 (points deducted for song choice.) I was really hoping Idol producers would give Lambert a generous 8 minutes to cover "November Rain", though, in a way it's good they didn't:
Allison Iraheta "Crybaby": Predictable, Shmedictable. We have ALL wanted to hear Allison sing Joplin. And what's this? She's choosing one of my favorite Janis songs, "Cry Baby." Now be honest: How many of you pretty much only know this song thanks to the adorable baby sequence in Look Who's Talking? It's OK, my hand is up too. Let's see em. There we are. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, click here and fast forward to 8:00.) Tonight, I thought Allison KICKED ASS. Is it too late to add her to the VH1 Divas line-up? Because she deserves it. Though, might we suggest she "V For Vendetta" that mullet as soon as she can. It doesn't do her any favors. Also, the judges are pricks. RATING 10/10 (We're getting extreme this week.)
Kris and Danny Due "Renegade": Whut. What exactly is going on here? Is this a DVD extra of some backwoods inbred brothers from "O Brother Where Art Though?" WHY THIS SONG? You know, maaaaaybe if they would have sung "Sailing Away", maybe I could give a care. And what is Danny's necklace about? He sounds like Methface McDonald. Which just goes to show... Rock N' Roll is the devil's music. Oh, was Kris there? Didn't notice. RATING 3/10
Kris Allen "Come Together": Kris stated that working with Slash made him "want to pee his pants", to which we say "Maybe this isn't the reality show for you." Now, I'm not Kris' biggest fan in the world, but -- FOR HIM -- I thought he was pretty good. His crooky jaw was in full fx, but hey -- it's a song I can sing along to! Points for that. Meanwhile, Kara, who was sporting a STUDDED LEATHER JACKET and a BUMP IT, told Kris he was "trying to hard." Just another case of the pot calling the kettle washed up. All this being said, Kris should probably go home tonight. RATING 5/10
Meanwhile, Slash had no idea what the hell was going on:
Danny Gokey "Dream On": Please, God, tell me Gokey wore diapers. Please. Because there is no way he sang that song without actually crapping in his own pants. The only time human should make that noise is when they are passing a stool -- this is the way God intended us to function. And now, the only way I can coherently talk about Danny this week, a mini liveblog of the last 30 seconds of the song: WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. HE IS SCARING MEEEEEE THE END WHAT AM I LISTENING TO NOOOOOOOOOOOO THIS IS THE WORST THING NOOOOOGOOOOGOGOGOOGOOOOOO. EVEN PAULA SAT DOWN WHAT IS HAPPENINGGGG? DANNY WHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHY. In case you missed it, here it is again:
Allison and Adam "Slow Ride": Probably my favorite performance of the night. Allison looked adorable, and Lambert was Lamberting it up a storm. To be fair, if it wasn't for the Simpsons episode "Like Father, Like Clown", I wouldn't actually believe Foghat was a real band. Anyway, I'm pretty sure this song saved the night. Really, song selection this season has been about as bad as ever. Blame the contestants, blame the lame theme weeks, whatever it is, there's usually only one great song a night -- IF you're lucky. And Allison is slowly becoming our favorite contestant on the show, go figure. RATING 9/10
Thoughts on the episode? We are almost through with this nightmare, America, don't give up now.
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