We've all seen the...

Source: E! Online (US) - Top Stories | 22 May 2009 | 6:20 pm

MTA Teases Us With Dreams of a Better Subway

The MTA's outgoing chief, Elliot Sander, has revealed that there are plans in the works to totally revamp the current MetroCard system by 2011. Instead of the cumbersome swipe cards we currently use, subway and bus riders would have something akin to an E-Z Pass, which would automatically charge them as they passed by. The same pass could be used for commuter rails, bridges, and tolls, and eventually even New Jersey Transit. Obviously, this would be a vast improvement in the way we travel. Imagine never again having to wait impatiently behind someone on the turnstile line who clearly hasn't yet mastered the precise swiping speed required of them. Or being able to catch that train that you would have missed because you had to wait your turn in line. It would be a less stressful, more efficient, better world. We just wonder, with one widely opposed, makeshift bailout and staff reductions already in the books, and a massive budget shortfall still looming, how in the hell they plan to pay for it.

MTA EYES 'E-ZIER' PASS FOR RIDERS [NYP]

Read more posts by Dan Amira

Filed Under: e-z pass, mta, mta bailout, stand clear of the closing doors, subway, transportation

Source: Daily Intel | 22 May 2009 | 6:19 pm

AD WIZARDS: McDonalds Turns London Tourists Into Everyday Posers

McDonald's has installed an interactive billboard in London's Piccadilly Circus, which incorporates the classic "Holding Up The Tower of Pisa" perspective to have a little fun with the thousands of tourists making their way through the pedestrian madness. As this video (brought to us by AdFreak) will prove, there's nothing like wearing a giant black bowler or holding up an old timey dumbbell that will really put you in the mood for a 1/4-pounder-w/-cheese. No sarcasm there: We're starving now. Check this video out, it's actually pretty entertaining.
Source: Best Week Ever | 22 May 2009 | 6:18 pm

Filmmaker Joel Plotch Pulls One Over

It’s the 45th anniversary of Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, and a restored new print of Stanley Kubrick’s nightmare comedy masterpiece starts a run at Film Forum today. But it should be noted that many of the most iconic comedy bits in Kubrick’s film — the running gag about our "precious bodily fluids," for example — came from the mind of the great novelist and journalist Terry Southern. So we figured this was a good time to share Heavy Put-Away (or, a Hustle Not Devoid of a Certain Grossness, Granted), directed by Joel Plotch and based on Southern’s story of the same name, which was apparently first told to him by the legendary producer and studio head John Calley. The story unfolds through a drug-fueled lunch conversation between a young L.A. type (Dallas Roberts, who delivers his monologue with oily brio) and a grizzled reporter figure (the always-awesome Mark Boone Junior), and it concerns what promises to be an elaborate con involving a young stuntman’s wife (Gretchen Mol). But Plotch and Southern deliver something altogether different: The story does end with a final twist of the knife, but it’s far subtler and more haunting than you might expect.

Read more posts by Bilge Ebiri

Filed Under: joel plotch, video, vulture picture palace

Source: Vulture | 22 May 2009 | 6:15 pm

Kris Allen Says Wife's OK With Simon Cowell's Comments

It's hard to forget the moment on American Idol when Simon Cowell told Kris Allen that it might have been too soon to play the wife card. His wife, Katy, was sitting right there and had a...

Source: E! Online (US) - Top Stories | 22 May 2009 | 6:10 pm

WATCH: 'Jon and Kate' Marriage Questions

Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 22 May 2009 | 6:07 pm

Joaquin Sorolla's painting titled "Walk on the Beach"

Joaquin Sorolla's painting titled "Walk on the Beach." Madrid's Prado Museum opens a retrospective next week of impressionist-inspired artist Sorolla, 102 works that include his most famous paintings of...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 22 May 2009 | 6:03 pm

Gossip Girl Has to Be Cruel to Be Queen

After the rude interruption that was the Lily origin story, we were happy to have our favorite Upper East Siders all to ourselves for last week's seasons finale, and so were you. This week, commenter VanderVander selects his favorite comments from last week's recap of the season finale of Gossip Girl. Thanks to all who offered to do this very special, unpaid duty — we can't wait to bug you about doing it next season!

To recap: In last week's season finale, Dan had accepted being sent to a “glorified state school” without complaint, despite the near impossibility of getting decent financial aid from NYU. (Somehow, his half-brother already knew about this turn of events, and tracked him down in the campus coffee shop, where he eyed him with a perturbing gay stare.) Nate, on assignment from the only cast member with prettier hair than his own, embraced the task of discovering Gossip Girl’s identity with equal parts fervor and idiocy, but ultimately failed. Blair passed on the Constance-Billard queenship baton (or rather, the jewel-encrusted headband) to Little J, who immediately became drunk with power and mandated the abolishment of the headbandanistas in favor of raccoon eyeliner. Chuck got over Blair’s dalliance with his rapey uncle with lightning speed and dropped the three words, eight letters that we all wanted — nay, needed — to hear. Serena fought irrelevance, and made perhaps the most unrealistic purchase of the season by buying every high-school student in upper Manhattan free drinks.

Now, the best of your comments!

Nate – class whore +2
Dan – ultimate insider +1
Chuck – coward +1
Blair – weakling +1
Serena – irrelevant +2
—DCRED

They forgot to put Dan's name in the program? Even adults think he is a loser, +3
—NURSELUVBASS

No elite private school would ever wear rented caps and gowns in hideous jewel tones. Graduation attire is crested blazers for boys and white dresses for girls. Minus 50.
—JUDGEMENT_FACE

-10 for jonathan not being gossip girl. that would have been AWESOME
—ONESECRETILLNEVERTELL

Dan: Where's Poppy?
Georgina: You don't have to worry about Poppy anymore.
Was anyone else expecting the camera to pull back to reveal Poppy gagged, tied by the feet and hanging over some sort of fire with her horrible pixie hair hacked off? Just me? -10 for not going there.
—KDOW3

"They're a team!" Oh Nate, you're so simple. We love you for it. +3 for making lol.
—CBASSLUV

Dan's best suit would be brown. You know who else wears a brown suit? Hagrid. Plus 3.
—MARTELL

B- "Like you didn't do that with the dregs of Dumbo!"
V- "I'm standing RIGHT here"
+50 for Blair not replying.
—JOJOBASS

-10 for Dan going to NYU all of a sudden. Didn't he get into Yale early? Isn't that BINDING? And has anyone ever heard of a FAFSA? Plus, how in hell has Rufus been able to afford private school for two kids but not college? St. Jude's has to be at least 30K a year, it's not a huge leap to undergrad tuition.
—CAPHILL2320

Scott looks like a sleazebag. So between Rufus's greasy hair and Lily's sluttiness from her youth, I think he's a pretty spot on spawn. +1
—CBASSLUV

Of course Chuck Bass would graduate despite not attending high school for most of the school year and no one would question it. Plus 5
—SEANATHAN

+5 for Nate's grandfather's line "welcome to washington, my boy!," for a WASPier thing has never been said.
—MONYMONY

That kid that Lily gave up for adoption and Rufus didn't even know about. He was sitting there looking at a newspaper article saying that Lily and Rufus are getting married. So, if he knows ANYTHING about them being his parents and now, 20 years after they gave him up, sees that they are all of a sudden marrying each other. That has to be like the biggest WTF ever.
—JMOLOTOV

When Blair says she wants to talk Chuck immediately assumes lap dance position on the sofa. +3 for consistency
—COUNTRYMAEVE

PLUS 20 for Georgina going to Gallatin. Someone recently graduated with a degree in "Evil." Writers take note.
—LEOTHEGREAT

So Serena is going to get kicked out of Brown for something i.e being a coke snorting slut and therefore will "have to" go to NYU and thus all our characters will be back where they belong....right???
—FREE_TO_BE

Read more posts by VanderVander

Filed Under: gossip girl, our commenters are awesome, the greatest show of our time

Source: Daily Intel | 22 May 2009 | 6:02 pm

American Apparel Debuts Backless Tights (NSFW, Obviously)

We admit we weren’t expecting anything this exciting from the latest American Apparel e-mail touting “Exciting New Styles,” but how wrong we were to underestimate the sexually charged company. After clicking through images of floral swimwear and men’s bow ties, it all looked like standard hipster protocol. But, suddenly, amid the photos of new merch, we clicked open a JPEG to reveal a thrilling new addition to the American Apparel line: assless tights. The tights appear to be the same pantyhose the store has been selling for a while now, except this special style reveals your bum. Classy! The tights are still in production, so you can’t run out and buy a pair just yet. But we wonder if, come August, all the girls in Williamsburg will take to the streets cheeks out. What’s next, Dov? Crotchless bodysuits? And with that lovely image in our heads, we'll be spending the weekend as proper fashion gals should: breaking out our best nauticals and drinking prosecco. See you guys on Tuesday.

Read more posts by Doria Santlofer

Filed Under: american apparel, bottoms up

Source: The Cut | 22 May 2009 | 6:00 pm

Zombie movie made for $70 wowing crowds

A budding British director is enjoying success on a shoestring at Cannes with "Colin," a new zombie feature that cost a scarcely believable $70 to make.
Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 22 May 2009 | 5:56 pm

Green Day Continues Fighting Dumbing-Down Of American Culture In Walgreens Concert Series

This punk-fueled railing against pack-minded American culture was broadcast on Good Morning America and brought to you by Walgreens! Walgreens: The Pharmacy all you f***ing American Idiots trust. After the jump, some more punk rock, Walgreens style:
Source: Best Week Ever | 22 May 2009 | 5:55 pm

Jessica Biel on Easy Virtue, the Status of Nailed, and Her Deferred Dream of Being Whitney Houston

In Easy Virtue, based on the Noël Coward play, Jessica Biel plays Larita Whittaker, a glamorous American who upends the stuffy rural rhythms of her young British husband's life and squares off with her new mother-in-law (Kristin Scott Thomas). Vulture spoke with Biel about her song on the film's soundtrack, the status of David O. Russell's Nailed, and doing her own stunts.

Was shooting in England and tackling Noël Coward at all intimidating?
Definitely. I was more familiar with Coward's music, actually, than his plays, but I terribly look up to Kristin Scott Thomas and love Colin Firth, and everybody there had been through such intense drama school that at first it was scary. And it's nerve-wracking going to live in a new place, a different country. Thank goodness I speak the language, though; that makes it a lot easier. And I didn’t know what a crumpet was, but after I found out about them, I had them every day.

Did you relate at all to Larita?
I related to her in her fish-out-of-water feeling. I think I've always felt that way growing up. I went to a lot of different schools and was always the new kid. You're on television, you go to college, and then you're the kid on television that everybody knows, but you don't know anybody. I really connected with her stoic, I'm-gonna-survive-this-situation attitude. What was very different and hard for me to grasp was her incredibly witty comebacks ... I wish I was like that! I'm just a little too nice.

Larita has quite a bit of activity in the movie, from riding motorcycles to some wild dances. Any favorites?
That wasn't me on the motorcycle, unfortunately. I love doing my own stunts, and I always request to do it, but the insurance wouldn't allow it. As far as the dancing, the cancan is so hard, it's a really aerobic, relentless dance. The knees are up to here [indicates chest], and with the abs, it's pretty serious. It was really fun, though.

You sing a version of "Mad About the Boy" over the credits, too — how did that come about?
They were moving forward with [Ben Barnes doing it], but found out by looking into Coward's will and things that he wrote about his music that he said no man could ever record that song again. I guess he was in love with somebody and that was it — no man was going to record that again, so you can only find women singing and recording it. So it was very random. I hadn't planned on it, and it was such a treat to get to do that because — and I know no one really knows this about me — I really started in musical theater, with Annie and The Sound of Music. I mean, I wanted to be Whitney Houston, that was my dream.

You've mentioned in other interviews that people have resisted seeing you in auditions. How frustrating is that?
I'm always trying to do new and different things, simply for me not to become bored. "What is going to scare me to death? Okay, I should do that." And yeah, sometimes I don't get in the room, and that's frustrating — to not be seen for whatever reason. You don't want it? Fine, that's okay, I understand that. But at least let me have a shot.

And is there any update on David O. Russell's Nailed?
I think we have some more work to do on it. It will definitely be coming out at some point, though. It was a fantastic experience, and it will be a wild movie.

Read more posts by Brent Simon

Filed Under: chat room, easy virtue, jessica biel, movies, nailed

Source: Vulture | 22 May 2009 | 5:45 pm

Even Other NFL Players Are Making Fun of Brett Favre Now

To most of us, Brett Favre’s constant retirements and un-retirements and re-retirements became a joke some time ago. And now even fellow members of the Fraternity of Professional Football Players are openly mocking him in public. Witness video of Giants offensive tackle David Diehl at Wednesday night’s “12 Angry Mascots” show at Comix. In the clip, Diehl — playing Favre and wearing a Packers hat — has trouble deciding on an entrée, changing his mind several times before finally settling on a choice. Then he swaps the Packers hat for a Jets one, and changes his mind again. (He also filled in on a bit for Nate Robinson, who had to cancel, and got in some shots at Bill Belichick and Boston fans in general.) Granted, it’s not exactly UCB-level comedy, but that’s probably just because all the good Favre jokes have already been taken.

New York Giants' David Diehl pokes fun at Brett Favre in comedy club debut [NJ.com]
Related: Brett Favre and the Ten Worst Sports Retirements

Read more posts by Joe DeLessio

Filed Under: brett favre, david diehl, football, giants, jets, sports, the sports section

Source: Daily Intel | 22 May 2009 | 5:38 pm

Marios Schwab Won’t Bring His Namesake Line to New York Fashion Week

This week, Marios Schwab was announced as the new head designer of Halston. The label had been without a head designer for almost a year, only heightening anticipation for Schwab's appointment. Schwab is, understandably, a little scared. "Of course I feel the pressure," he tells British Vogue. "It's a huge challenge but fashion at the moment needs innovation. I would be hesitant to do just one thing — it's important to be able to create and be open-minded."

Schwab's show for his namesake line is one of the highlights of London Fashion Week. Though he's moving to New York to take the Halston job, he says he plans to show the Marios Schwab collection in London. "I love the thought of having two fashion metropolises. London is amazing inspiration and New York is an interesting place to be — it's important what comes out of them." Oh, showing overseas sounds like a pain. Showing in New York would be much more convenient for him, even if it is only "interesting" to London's "amazing." At least our street system makes sense, for the most part.

Schwab's Halston Take [British Vogue]
Earlier: Marios Schwab to Helm Halston

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: designers, halston, london fashion week, marios schwab, new york fashion week

Source: The Cut | 22 May 2009 | 5:30 pm

Dick Parsons Has a ‘Love Child’

Former Time Warner CEO and current Citigroup chairman Richard Parsons has a "love child," according to the Daily News, with a model turned philanthropist named MacDella Cooper, whose foundation he supports. A "love child"! There's something wonderfully old-fashioned and kind of romantic about that — but not so old-fashioned. For instance, at least we know that with Parsons's fat wallet there's no way baby Ella is going to have to start school in a worn, torn dress that somebody threw out, or know how it feels to always live in doubt, or be without the simple things ... Love child! Never meant to be! Love child! Born in pover — sorry, it's Friday. [NYDN]

Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: business, citigroup, dick parsons, richard parsons, scandals

Source: Daily Intel | 22 May 2009 | 5:29 pm

A Cappella Is Back. And In Related News, Self-Inflicted Ear Drum Mutilations Are Skyrocketing

A few months back, we relayed to you one of our deepest and most vile of hatreds: A Cappella music, the only art form more embarrassing than bad college improv (Ed. Note: I was on my college improv team. We all make mistakes.) Let us remember those initial anti-cappella statements:

Ahhh…. cappella. Perhaps no other form of organized performance gets my bile flap in a tizzy like a cappella, the finger-snapping, musical college equivalent of an IRS audit. The college I went to had a slew of singing groups to choose from, and it seemed that even though I never attended any of their concerts by choice, I was still subjected to their harmonizing ways at various events. There I would be, lured into our student center by a table of free snacks, and just as my arms were as laden with as many Entenmann’s as a lady could handle, I would hear it: A small Asian girl in the opening throes of “No More ‘I Love You’s’”; or a group of Christian singers dealing Jesus perhaps the most sinful of blows: A slightly flat version of “Your Love Is Liftin’ Me Higher.” Within seconds, there was a powdered sugar outline where my body once stood as my legs road-runnered it to the door (pastries in hand, of course).

Half a year later, our opinion remains mostly the same. But America? America is a different story. Because, thanks to the new Fox musical comedy series Glee, about a high school glee club, the following news has broken: A "DON'T STOP BELIEVIN'" A CAPPELLA COVER IS THE NUMBER 2 SELLING SONG ON ITUNES. Now, to be fair, this isn't authentic a cappella -- it starts of unpromising enough, but the Fox producers couldn't help but throw a little drum/violining combo in towards the middle. But still, we have to wonder... does this signal a resurgence of a cappella popularity? Because not since Billy Joel sang all 14 parts to "For The Longest Time" has this country responded so positively to the 'cappella. Friends swear that Glee will be the best part of our Fall of 09. But as this video is all I have to go off of, I'm not sure if I can bring myself to sit through an hour of beaming high school hopefuls... even if they are 34 year old actors. So sure, maybe my heart beats tar... and yes, chances are 100 percent likely that I'll fall in love with Glee once the summer is over. But for now, the only thing I won't stop believin' is that a cappella is the most dreadful of all musical genres. Listen to the #2 Song on Itunes ahead, and judge for yourself.
Source: Best Week Ever | 22 May 2009 | 5:28 pm

Last Night’s Bruce Springsteen Show: Yep, Awesome

Last night’s show at the Izod Center delivered some actual news — toward the end of the night, Bruuuuuce announced the E Street Band will close down the soon-to-be-shuttered Giants Stadium with three shows in the fall. But we were more interested in news of the much less valid variety — what’s going on with the Bruce adultery story? Backstreets.com has noted that Springsteen’s wife and E Street co-band-member, Patti Scialfa, has been on and off the tour since an April 22 horse-riding accident, although our conspiracy-theory-hungry minds couldn’t help but wonder if it had anything to do with that dude who claimed the Boss slept with his wife.

The story was sort of debunked yesterday — the alleged mistress, Ann Kelly, says her husband made the whole thing up to try to extort money during their divorce proceedings (although Kelly is buddies with Bruce from some fancy private gym they both go to. Just saying …). Patti was onstage last night, and we kept our eyes peeled for any lingering awkwardness, just in case, during their duet on “Kingdom of Love.” Results were inconclusive, although the Boss did chase her down for a kiss at the end.

The show itself was, of course, predictably awesome, from a rambling mid-set Bruce speech about “building a house of love” to the passing of the mike to a couple of adorable front-row moppets who, terrified, still managed to squeak out a few lines of “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day.” Max Weinberg was totally M.I.A. (prepping for the Tonight Show?), but his 18-year-old son Jay more than ably filled in on drums. The encore was particularly epic, with “Thunder Road” segueing into “Jungleland,” and “Rosalita” capping things off — “Is this New Jersey?” Bruce hollered, to roars. “Then we can’t go home until we've played this one!”

Read more posts by Amos Barshad

Filed Under: bruce springsteen, last night's gig, music

Source: Vulture | 22 May 2009 | 5:15 pm

Is the Bronx Terror Plot Good for Stoners?

More information has been steadily dribbling out about the four men accused of plotting to bomb two Bronx synagogues and shoot down a military aircraft with a missile. They may have been turned on to Islam in prison; they bought a gun from a “supreme Blood gang leader” in Brooklyn; and they frequently met at the home of an informant, which was wired with cameras and microphones by the FBI. And also, the alleged ringleader of the group, James Cromitie, is kind of a pothead. He told U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa M. Smith that not only does he smoke "regularly," but admitted that he had even gotten high the night of his ill-fated attempted terrorist attack. This, at first glance, doesn't seem like the kind of PR that benefits stoners or other proponents of decriminalizing marijuana. Having a terrorist on your team isn't quite as good as having Michael Phelps and Arnold Schwarzenegger. But it could be looked at in another light as well: Weed saved lives.

Just imagine, for a moment, how lethal and effective these potential terrorists could have been if they weren't getting high. Maybe, with a clear head and increased awareness of their surroundings, they would have noticed they were being constantly surveilled. Perhaps they would have figured out that the explosives the FBI provided to them were duds. And most important, had their capacity for reason been uncontaminated, they might have recognized that the mysterious new stranger in their mosque was working for the government, as everyone else was apparently able to deduce quite easily. As the Post reports:

[Head imam Salahuddin Mustafa] Mohammad said members of the mosque had detected a man they believe was the government's informant, trying to get people to talk about jihad and radical Islam. The man would take people out for expensive meals to win them over, Mohammad said. "Anyone with any smarts knew to stay away from this guy," he said.

Anyone with smarts? Or anyone who wasn't easily swayed by the prospect of free food? Clearly, marijuana was responsible for cracking this case wide open, sapping the terrorists of the sharp wits required to carry out their plot successfully. So don't fret, stoners — far from sullying the reputation of your drug of choice, Cromitie and friends have actually provided a national-security argument for making it more widely available.

Accused Terror Ringleader: I'm a Pothead [NBC New York]
In Bronx Bomb Case, Steps and Missteps Alike Caught on Tape [NYT]

Read more posts by Dan Amira

Filed Under: james cromitie, scary things, stoners, terror, terrorism

Source: Daily Intel | 22 May 2009 | 5:02 pm

Only Fendi Would Want to Put Fur on a Bicycle

In a move that proves any object can become high fashion with a little bit of tweaking, Fendi released a new bicycle named the Fendi Abici Amante Donna (designer Karl Lagerfeld also launched one by Chanel last year). It comes in two different versions, both available at the Fifth Avenue flagship. The first is covered with leather accessories like a GPS holder and detachable bike bag and costs $5,900. The second boasts a heftier price tag of $9,500, owing to the removable fur saddlebags on the rear tire. Fur on a bike is hardly logical, but in high-fashion sports, there are no limits. Let's just hope the tiny leather-covered lock that comes with the bike is enough to fend off thieves, because this thing is bound to get stolen if left on the street for more than five seconds. [WWD]

Read more posts by Sharon Clott

Filed Under: bicycles, bicycling, bicycling gear, chanel, fendi, karl lagerfeld, ride on, sporting goods

Source: The Cut | 22 May 2009 | 5:00 pm

Robyn’s in Love With a Robot (Literally!)

While we patiently wait for Europop goddess Robyn to record a new LP (hopefully this time it won't take three years for the record to be released Stateside), her collaboration with Röyksopp on "The Girl and the Robot" more than satiates our Robyn fixation. This track made our original shortlist for Song of the Summer, but we fear that American radio's near total disregard for robotic synths will doom this song to permanent underground status. However, there's still an outside shot that the video for this song will help give some further exposure to the track that has effectively burrowed its way into our subconscious. While the titular robot Robyn sings about is a metaphor for her paramour's penchant for working late and ignoring her, the music video — much to our delight — plays things a little more literally.

Röyksopp: The Girl and the Robot [ft. Robyn] [Pitchfork]

Read more posts by Mark Graham

Filed Under: röyksopp, right-click, robyn, song of the summer

Source: Vulture | 22 May 2009 | 4:45 pm

LIFE HIGHLIGHT: Celebrity Lookalikes on Mike & Juliet

Yesterday, my favorite morning show in the world, The Mike & Juliet Show, asked me to be one of three judges for a Celebrity Lookalike Contest taking place on live television. If you're wondering what my reaction was like, strap a jetpack to your body, crank its destination setting to "the moon", pull the See n' Say string out of your chest, and take-off. If there's one thing I love, it's Celebrity Lookalikes... and let's face it: The worse they are, the way way higher the entertainment value. Folks, the show did not disappoint. Not only was I joined by two of my favorite people -- What Not to Wear's Clinton Kelly, who is every bit as charming and lovable as his on-screen persona, and Chuck Nice, of the Best Week Ever Nice's -- but the audience was made up of Fleet Week Sailors! Christmas has come early for Michelle Collins this year, ladies and gentlemen. Because it would be impossible to relay to you the simple joy that this 20 minutes brought into my life, might I present to you the following clips with bits of our impersonators, along with our reactions. Please note: The winner of this contest would walk away with a all-expenses included Jamaican vacation. Here we go. 1. Neil Diamond. Before the show began, the Neil Diamond lookalike -- real name Tom Sadge -- was easily the shmooziest of the four competitors. Thanks to Tom, I can now say that I've shaken hands with a man who looks and sounds remarkably like Neil Diamond. And as you will see, he did not disappoint.

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

2. Britney Spears. Here's the thing about being a Britney impersonator: If you're gonna do it, please be chubby. Or a man. Or a midge. Because, really, a Britney lookalike who is actually skinnier and prettier than the real thing is no fun at all (unless you are a straight man, and lets face it, no straight men give a care about celebrity impersonators.) Anyway, it seems this girl was actually slightly too classy to portray actual B-Spears:

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

3. Justin Timberlake. Nice guy. Sweet, cute. Friendly. A good sport. But not necessarily the best likeness to J.T. And by the way, if you're reading too much into my comment to him, it helps to know that the guy actually works in a fudge shoppe.

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

4. Steven Tyler. Look, I'll be straight up: Fake Steven Tyler looks an awful lot like real Steven Tyler. And his performance really wasn't bad -- for God's sake, the guy brought his own microphone. That being said, the group of us were really pulling for Neil to win that vacation. But of course, in classic Collins style, I awarded Steven a "10" for comedic reasons... which put him over the edge to win. If it matters at all, the sailors were really pulling for this guy...

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

So note to people traveling to Jamaica anytime soon: If you happen to stumble upon Steven Tyler lounging in a beach chair while eating a tray of empanada samplers... it's probably not the actual guy. If you would like the entirety of the above performances, M&J has kindly posted the entire thing on their website: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. And in related news, my frequent M&J co-star and hilarious lady from space, Arden Myrin, has launched her brand new website, which features plenty of things to enjoy: You can make it snow, order Mexican Ambien, and wonder if I am, in fact, pregnant with Helio Castroneves' baby, as this picture would seem to indicate. (I don't think I am, but maybe.) The site also features dozens of photos of Arden and her pal, Kate Flannery (The Office's Meredith) tearing this city a new one.
Source: Best Week Ever | 22 May 2009 | 4:44 pm

Hollywood Starlets Reveal Their Guy and Girl Crushes

Angelina Jolie leads Megan Fox as the star that female celebs cite as most desirable
Source: FOXNews.com | 22 May 2009 | 4:37 pm

NYT Mag Writer Edmund Andrews Neglected to Mention One Little Thing in His Mortgage Opus

Last week, when we were reading economics reporter Edmund Andrews's epic, frightening story in The New York Times Magazine—an excerpt of his book Busted which is about how he and his wife were sucked into a whirlpool of debt by the easy credit of the bubble—we groaned when we got to the part where he introduced his then-fiancée, "Patricia Barreiro," whom he described as "brainy, regal, sexy, fiery and eclectic."

"Ugh," we said to our significant other, who shall remain nameless for soon-to-be-obvious reasons. "It really annoys me when writers put the full names of their spouses in their articles. Like in Heat when Bill Buford kept being all, 'My wife, Jessica Green.' Why is that so irritating?"

"It's because it's there to benefit someone other than the reader," our spouse replied, for he is wise.

Yeah, and writers should really stop doing that. Especially when, as it turns out, they are concealing information about said spouse that, if discovered, completely changes the entire tenor of their story. For instance, the Atlantic has found out that in addition to being "brainy, regal, sexy, fiery and eclectic," Andrews's wife also has declared bankruptcy twice.

This the sort of detail that makes his story seem less like a morality tale for our time ( "a misadventure," as Andrews characterized it, that was perhaps "more extreme than those of many other Americans" but "not all that unusual") than something that happens to people who have a problem. Per the Atlantic:

This is really highly unusual ... Serial bankruptcy is not a creation of the current credit crisis, and it doesn't just happen to anyone, particularly anyone with a six figure salary .... Andrews married a woman with a lengthy history of debt and spending problems. Serial bankrupts were getting into trouble long before there was a credit bubble, indeed long before there were credit cards or 30-year self-amortizing mortgages.

Andrews has not yet responded to the news of this discovery.

When called for comment yesterday, Andrews was unavailable, but there is no question that it is his wife: his income and occupation are prominently featured in the docket.

See, all of these pesky details might have remained secret if he'd just avoided using her last name.

The Road to Bankruptcy [Atlantic]

Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: business, ink-stained wretches, media, new york times, new york times magazine, the atlantic

Source: Daily Intel | 22 May 2009 | 4:35 pm

Veteran filmmaker seduces French starlet

When a woman dates a much older man, bystanders often speculate that she has only the most superficial of motives.
Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 22 May 2009 | 4:30 pm

Amy Winehouse Designing a Capsule Collection for PPQ

Remember when Amy Winehouse was Karl Lagerfeld's muse, and then Roberto Cavalli went crazy for her, and Jonathan Kelsey designed a shoe for her, and journalists were all, "But she's not healthy! Why is fashion glorifying her?" Well she's back! Grazia reports that WiHo is designing a capsule collection for London label PPQ, the very same label Peaches Geldof, uh, designed a capsule collection for. PPQ designer Amy Molyneaux told Grazia:

‘The range will be all about high end statement pieces, inspired by Amy's style. For example maybe an amazing piece of jewellery like a bracelet or a dress. It's going to be distributed online, we are going to be providing all materials and doing the design, but Amy will definitely be involved in the creative process. It will be very different to Peaches' line for PPQ as that was more of a diffusion line — this will be an homage to Amy's look.'

So, as with all celebrity lines, Winehouse isn't technically designing this one, but it's good of Molyneaux to be up-front about that. Winehouse has been staying on St. Lucia recording her third album. She has been hospitalized three times down there owing to things like "chest pains" and "dehydration." Hmmm. Let's revisit what Lisa Armstrong wrote a little over a year ago in regards to Winehouse:

Somehow the fashion industry has got it into its head that what's really missing from every stylish woman's life is an accessory that will make her look like someone whose next must-have is an intravenous drip.

Yes. An amazing piece of jewelry like a bracelet. Duh.

Amy Winehouse doing fashion line for PPQ [Grazia]
Related: Remind Us Why Amy Winehouse Is a Fashion Icon Again?

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: amy molyneaux, amy winehouse, capsule collections, designers, inevitable things, jonathan kelsey, karl lagerfeld, peaches geldof, ppq, roberto cavalli

Source: The Cut | 22 May 2009 | 4:30 pm

5 Twitter Tips For Bands From Co-Founder Biz Stone

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone offers his advice on how bands and artists can best take advantage of the Twitter explosion.

Source: Billboard.com | 22 May 2009 | 4:19 pm

First Doctor Parnassus Reviews Not Boding Well for Heath Ledger’s Oscar Chances

Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus screened out of competition at Cannes a few hours ago. How is it? Well, if the first reviews are correct, it's probably the best one could hope for from a Gilliam movie featuring Verne Troyer and Tom Waits (as the devil) that was nearly scrapped in the wake of Heath Ledger's death, but later revived after three other actors agreed to complete his role: terrific.

Total Film pans it politely:

"Heath Ledger’s final film has screened at Cannes — and sad to say, it’s not the strongest swansong you could hope for ... The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus casts the late actor in a shady, slippery role that gives him only intermittent chance to shine. But then this isn’t so much an actors’ movie, the biggest success being art direction that conjures memorable flights of fancy in the face of a clearly limited FX budget."

IndieWire's Eric Kohn is slightly less kind:

"Marred by shoddy special effects and half-formed fantastical conceits, Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus has the feeling of a comic fantasia desperately seeking to find its rhythm. Nearly abandoned after the sudden death of leading man Heath Ledger prior to completing production in January of last year, the final result reflects the frantic cobbling together of missing pieces."

The Hollywood Reporter's Ray Bennett was similarly unimpressed:

"A carnival show with a mirror to the imagination allows Gilliam to employ his remarkable gift for imagery but the worlds he creates will not take the breath away of children or grownups. The combined star power involved will generate a plentiful boxoffice return but the film is not intelligent enough nor silly or grotesque enough to become a lasting favorite."

Even so, that Parnassus — which apparently introduces Ledger's character in a scene in which he's hanging from a bridge with a noose around his neck — is still without a U.S. buyer seems crazy, since we can't really imagine there are people who aren't at least a little curious about this thing.

Read more posts by Lane Brown

Filed Under: heath ledger, movies, terry gilliam, the imaginarium of doctor parnassus

Source: Vulture | 22 May 2009 | 4:15 pm

'Terminator' takes $13.37 million

Front Page: B.O. includes $3 million from midnight showings -- "Terminator Salvation" has launched with $13.37 million at 3,480 playdates as the fourth version of the franchise dominated Thursday's domestic moviegoing.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 22 May 2009 | 4:04 pm

WATCH: Green Day Performs 'American Idiot'

Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 22 May 2009 | 4:01 pm

WATCH: Green Day Performs 'Know Your Enemy'

Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 22 May 2009 | 4:00 pm

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Larry King’s Suspenders

Larry King on how many pairs of suspenders he owns: "Never counted 'em. But my guess would be — there are suspenders in New York and Washington and, of course, at my home in Los Angeles — 150. But they can't be clip-ons. Every pair of pants I buy — jeans, anything — we sew in the suspender buttons." [Time]

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: larry king, quotables

Source: The Cut | 22 May 2009 | 4:00 pm

Summer Rentals Now Priced for Common Folk!

As everyone trims back (or at least pretends to) for summer, vacation-rental prices are dropping drastically: A four-bedroom in East Hampton is down from $45,000 to $25,000 for the entire season, and you can score lakefront views in Connecticut and Rhode Island for four figures. So why not kick off summer by scoring a rental for the rest of the season? If you don't, you know you'll be remembering this exact moment and cursing it come August. [NYM]

Read more posts by Jessica Coen

Filed Under: hamptons, real estate, summering

Source: Daily Intel | 22 May 2009 | 4:00 pm

Ledger's Last Work Steals Cannes Spotlight

"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" features last performance of late actor.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 22 May 2009 | 3:55 pm

Did Jon and Kate's Fame Stress Marriage?

Parents of sextuplets say lack of privacy is hardest part of raising multiples.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 22 May 2009 | 3:51 pm

Megan Fox Wants to Strangle a Mountain Ox With Her Bare Hands

Megan Fox said that “Olivia Wilde is so sexy, she makes me want to strangle a mountain ox with my bare hands.” Owen Wilson annoyed an angry vegan at One Lucky Duck the other day, when he bypassed the takeout line to place his order. Jessica Simpson switched hairdressers. Robert De Niro just became a grandpa. Russian model Svetlana had a screaming meltdown in front of the Hotel du Cap after last night’s AmFAR benefit. Meanwhile in New York, Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr partied it up at the Gramercy Park Hotel, and were later joined by Blake Lively, Penn Badgley, and Taylor Momsen, who is, by the way, still 16. Drinks on her!

After Robin Wright Penn spent the week flitting around Cannes, chatting it up with Quentin Tarantino and Brad Pitt, Sean Penn withdrew his request to legally separate from her. After detailed analysis of their film-festival body language, some Brits at the Sun think Brangelina is headed for a breakup.

Did Madonna bring bad luck to the Mets? After she ditched A-Rod to attend a game at Citi Field, the Yankees started an eight-game winning streak and the Mets lost four in a row. Will Smith and Sony Pictures are making a film about Hurricane Katrina. Wyclef Jean had lunch on the Cipriani Wall Street rooftop. Russell Simmons was appointed the Goodwill Ambassador of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Memorial at the U.N.

When Gloria Estefan was a no-show at last night’s Museo del Barrio gala, the evening’s hostess hired an Estefan impersonator to serenade her guests, fooling Carolina Herrera, who was heard whispering, “Gloria looks so great. Who’s her doctor?” Larry King poked fun at the 26-year age gap between himself and his wife at a party for his memoir, My Remarkable Journey.

Skinny 90210 starlet AnnaLynne McCord canoodled with Twilight’s Kellan Lutz at the opening of the Gates and told all her friends that “it’s official.” Giada De Laurentiis thinks “it’s okay to cook and be sexy.” Tim Gunn is now a comic-book superhero. Keith Urban looks like he stole some of Nicole Kidman’s Botox injections. And enough with the Paris Hilton and Doug Reinhardt PDAs already. No one wants to see that.

Read more posts by Katie Goldsmith

Filed Under: analyne mccord, blake lively, brad pitt, brangelina, carolina herrera, david paterson, ed westwick, giada de laurentiis, gossipmonger, jessica szohr, kellan lutz, larry king, megan fox, olivia wilde, owen wilson, paris hilton, penn badgley, quention tarantino, robin wright penn, sean penn, taylor momsen, tim gunn, will smith, wyclef jean

Source: Daily Intel | 22 May 2009 | 3:47 pm

Heath Ledger's Final Film Premieres at Cannes

Late actor's final film premieres at Cannes, but Ledger shown dead in first scene
Source: FOXNews.com | 22 May 2009 | 3:42 pm

Pop Tarts: Lady Gaga Prefers Boys That Look Like Girls

Lady Gaga has a very specific kind of man that she wants in her life, and she is not afraid to admit it.
Source: FOXNews.com | 22 May 2009 | 3:38 pm

Cassie Sees a Barber Every Three Days; Valentino Won’t Leave His Yacht

Cassie. Sigh.

• When Cassie shaved half her head last month, she didn't know how high-maintenance it would be. "I get it touched up by a barber every three days," she said. [WWD]

• Valentino's yacht has been spotted in Cannes, but he's yet to make a red-carpet appearance at the festival. Also, Gwyneth Paltrow says his partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, is an amazing chef. [Fashionologie]

• Fortunoff closed this year, and the $1 million worth of leftover stock will be auctioned online at SimplexDiem.com. [Luxist]

• A Harvard study concluded that people who are beautiful are richer, better-educated, and more confident. Thank you, Harvard. [Web MD via Allure]

• Oscar de la Renta launched a line of girls' dresses this week, for those in search of a "mommy-and-me" wardrobe. They retail for $200 to $350, with $100 of each purchase going to charity. [WWD]

• Here's a look inside Vogue editor Sally Singer's New York abode. She has lots of little figurines and a cat. [The Selby via Fashionologie]

Read more posts by Sharon Clott

Filed Under: auctions, cannes film festival 2009, cassie, designers, fortunoff, giancarlo giammetti, gwyneth paltrow, hair, industry players, loose threads, oscar de la renta, sally singer, valentino, vogue

Source: The Cut | 22 May 2009 | 3:30 pm

OPEN THREAD: What’s Your Summer Jam of 2009?

Ah, Memorial Day: For some of you, a weekend to reflect back on the lives of our countries servicemen who sacrifices themselves for the greater good. For others, a reason to do keg stands in the woods with your top off while wearing your favorite flag thong. But for most people, Memorial Day also signals something else: The beginning of Summer. Watermelon, beer, sprinklers, sunshine, forehead pimples all make their debut this weekend. But without the appropriate soundtrack, many of these summery things lose their essential joy. (Have yooouuu ever tried playing grenade hackeysack while blindfolded/drunk without a handy Summer Jam? Just me? Wait til I get Pa on the phone.) Which leads to today's VERY IMPORTANT Pre-Memorial Day Weekend Open Thread: What Will Your Summer Jam of 2009 Be? A few weeks ago, we loudly proclaimed two Lady Gaga songs to be our 09 Summer Jams: Both "Boys, Boys, Boys" and "Summer Boy" -- indeed, different songs, were the front runners. But we fear these jams may have been released to early for their own good, as following weeks of continuous, looping play, we're on the verge of boys-oning ourselves (click for appropriate pun GIF). So tell us: What's looking like your summer jam this year? Let us know in the comments, and throw in a Youtube link if you want. Also, feel free to boast about your amazing Memorial Day weekend plans while we wheel our Bartles & James keg home for our one-lady party. After the jump, check out our default summer jam if nothing else comes through.
Source: Best Week Ever | 22 May 2009 | 3:21 pm

Film Aims to Push Alleged Gays Out of Closet

Openly gay politicians chastise closeted political colleagues who vote anti-gay.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 22 May 2009 | 3:17 pm

Accused Dolla Killer Pleads Not Guilty

A man accused of murder in the shooting death of Dolla at a Los Angeles mall has pleaded not guilty.

Source: Billboard.com | 22 May 2009 | 3:15 pm

Forever 21: You’d Need a Telescope to See What Trovata Thinks We Copied

The Forever 21 shirts are on the top row; Trovata's are on the bottom.

Closing arguments in the case brought against Forever 21 by Trovata took place yesterday. Trovata accuses Forever 21 of knocking off the design of seven pieces, including cardigans, hoodies, shirts, and a jacket from fall 2005 to early 2006. WWD reports:

“This is about a lot more than buttons and threads,” Frank Colucci, who is representing Trovata, told the jury of six men and two women in U.S. District Court here. “It’s about how an array of unique elements is combined to embody the ‘twisted preppy’ look for which Trovata is known and praised.”

Colucci added that Forever 21 clearly doesn't care that they knock people off, and thinks they're too big and important to "play fair and decent." Judging by the Forever 21 founder, who acted like she hardly knew a damn thing about her company in court earlier this week, it's a solid argument.

Forever 21 lawyer Bruce Brunda countered: “You would need a telescope, or at least binoculars” to find the features Trovata alleges were copied “on anyone walking down a runway in a fashion show.”

He said “substantive changes were made” to the garments sold by Forever 21. “Where is that wrong?”

Now, the Trovata pieces and alleged knockoffs may look the same without the suggested magnifying tools, but that might not be enough for Trovata to win the case. The label is trying to convince the jury that similar design elements of the Forever 21 garments, like button placement and alternating stripes in contrasting colors (called "trade dress" in legal speak), constitutes an infringement of Trovata's intellectual property. It's a tough case to make. Trovata must prove that the visual appearance of their clothes links to their brand in consumers' minds. Trade dress does not constitute elements that serve a functional purpose, like non-decorative zippers. A ruling in Trovata's favor could prevent Forever 21 and other fast-fashion chains from knocking off designer pieces in the future.

Trovata, Forever 21 Lawyers Give Closing Arguments [WWD]
Earlier: Forever 21 Founder Doesn’t Know Much About Her Company

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: copyfights, forever 21, lawsuits, trovata

Source: The Cut | 22 May 2009 | 2:45 pm

Happy Birthday, Eaton Beaver!

Somewhere, in the deepest quadrant of America's heartland, exists a television news station that exists solely to wish people Happy Birthday. Or so it would appear from the following clip (directed by The Bourne Supremacy's Paul Greengrass), where two anchors spend almost a minute rattling off various local birthdays. And while the following 45 seconds of your life will most certainly be lost, do admire, at least for a moment, that local celebrity sex offender Eaton Beaver has made it all the way to 69. Happy B-Day Eats! Via Buzzfeed
Source: Best Week Ever | 22 May 2009 | 2:43 pm

Natalie Cole Loses Sister Hours After Kidney Transplant

On same day singer gets life-saving kidney transplant, family member dies after surprise cancer diagnosis
Source: FOXNews.com | 22 May 2009 | 2:31 pm

Amy Winehouse Cancels Another Gig

Singer Amy Winehouse has pulled out of a London anniversary concert for her record label, her management said on Friday.

Source: Billboard.com | 22 May 2009 | 2:27 pm

'Basterds' 'distinctive' or terrible?

Quentin Tarantino didn't give himself any breaks while making his latest film "Inglourious Basterds," which premiered at Cannes this week.
Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 22 May 2009 | 2:09 pm

Dizzee Rascal Driving U.K. 'Bonkers'

Dizzee Rascal is set to score a big-selling No. 1 single in the U.K. on Sunday (May 24) with "Bonkers" (Dirtee Stank), his collaboration with DJ and producer Armand Van Helden.

Source: Billboard.com | 22 May 2009 | 2:07 pm

Marisa Miller's Top 5 Summer Workout Tips

"There's no magic pill. Believe me, if there was, I'd know about it," she says
Source: FOXNews.com | 22 May 2009 | 2:03 pm

Events and Sales: 50 Percent Off Opening Ceremony; Marais USA Pop-up Shop

EVENTS
TODAY
• Chic sandal brand Marais USA is holding a one-day pop-up shop in Williamsburg, offering the Crosby, Mott, and Prince styles. 55 Nassau Ave., at Guernsey (718-782-3075); 12–9.

TOMORROW
• For one day, adult and kids' solid flip-flops at Old Navy are $1. Various locations.

SALES
STARTING TODAY
• Opening Ceremony is offering up to 50 percent off clothing from brands like Vena Cava, Boy, and the in-house Opening Ceremony line. Until merchandise runs out. 35 Howard St., nr. Broadway (212-219-2688); M–S (11–8); S (12–7).

• Find discounts of up to 40 percent on clothing from Wren, Trovata, Jamison, and Lorick at Thistle & Clover's spring sale. Wren's classic navy trench is $271 (originally $387) and Demylee's lush striped cardigan is $229 (originally $345). Through 5/24. 221 DeKalb Ave., nr. Clermont Ave. (718-855-5577); F (12–8); S–Su (11–7).

ENDING TODAY
• Gargyle is offering up to 40 percent off spring and summer clothing from Lorick, Surface to Air, Rachel Comey, Acne, and more in-store and online. 16A Orchard St., nr. Hester St. (917-470-9367); daily (10–7:30).

• Araks lingerie, fall ready-to-wear, and swimwear are up to 80 percent off; a chemise is now $90 (originally $275), a swim set is now $40 (originally $228), and find $10 bins of bras, panties, and more. 137 Grand St., nr. Lafayette St., fifth fl.; Th (8:30–7:30), F (9:30–6:30).

• Luca Luca cocktail dresses are up to 90 percent off. 19 W. 36th St., nr. Fifth Ave. (212-644-5568); daily (9–6).

• Save 75 percent on the MINT Jodi Arnold spring collection, a great sale to hit if you need something to wear to a summer wedding. Pants start at $80 (originally $200), tops start at $120 (originally $300), and dresses start at $160 (originally $375). 230 W. 39th St., nr. Seventh Ave., second fl.; daily (9–6).

• At the Nanette Lepore sample sale, dresses are $140 (originally $335), skirts are $100 (originally $195), tops are $95 (originally $215), sweaters are $75 (originally $110), and shoes are $130 (originally $255). 225 W. 35th St., nr. Seventh Ave., fourth fl. (212-594-0012); daily (9–7).

• Clothing from Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, Ilaria Nistri, Iodice, and Qi is 70 percent off at this sample sale. 544 W. 27th St., nr. Eleventh Ave., sixth fl.; T–F (10–8).

• Clothing and accessories by Orla Kiely, Charlotte Ronson, and Erickson Beamon are below wholesale prices at Showroom Seven. 263 Eleventh Ave., nr. 27th St., third fl. (212-643-4810); M–S (10–7), Su (closed).

ENDING SUNDAY
• Find discounts on clothing and accessories from Missoni, Lauren Moffatt, and Marc Jacobs at Gilt Groupe's sale. 2 Great Jones St., nr. Broadway; daily (12–7).

Read more posts by Lauren Murrow

Filed Under: fashion calendar, sales, shopping