AP - Rapper Corey "C-Murder" Miller was convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder for the 2002 shooting of a fan during a nightclub brawl, capping tumultuous jury deliberations at his second trial in the killing.
AP - Michael Viner (VEE'-nuhr), who helped popularize audio books and published a line of tabloid tell-all books that included O.J. Simpson trial figure Faye Resnick and disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, has died. He was 65. Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 12 Aug 2009 | 4:26 am
Front Page: 'Hangover' star joins Universal comedy -- Universal Pictures has acquired the spec script "Central Intelligence" as a star vehicle for Ed Helms. Project becomes the second Helms comedy to take root this summer on the heels of "The Hangover."
—Jefry, via the Answer B!tch inbox
I assume you're referring at least partly to Miley...
Joe Jonas is moving up the movie-star ladder.
I just got word that Joe is close to joining Hollywood hotshots like Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Patrick...
Just in case you weren't certain, Michael Jackson is "not buried yet."
Shooting down published reports (and backing up what we reported yesterday), father Joe...
OK, we admit: We're not entirely convinced American Idol is soooo much better without Paula Abdul. The woman, after all, does make unscripted TV soooo deliciously unscripted.
But by...
It was almost as if we saw a glimpse of old and fun Angelina Jolie out in action last night at the Inglourious Basterds premiere in L.A. Even though she donned her typical black getup, the...
There's no denying Channing Tatum can dance.
We all seen his smooth moves in both Step Up flicks and know that his undeniable talent helped him boogie his way into wedded...
September 25–October 11
Main Slate
OPENING NIGHT Wild Grass / Les herbes folles
Alain Resnais, France, 2009; 113 min
The venerable Alan Resnais creates an exquisite human comedy of manners, mystery and romance with some of France's — and our — favorite actors: Sabine Azéma, André Dussollier, Emmanuelle Devos, and Mathieu Almaric. A Sony Pictures Classics release.
CENTERPIECE Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Lee Daniels, USA, 2009; 109 min
Precious is sixteen and living a miserable life. But she uses all the emotional energy she possesses to turn her life around. Director Lee Daniel's audacious tale features unforgettable performances by Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey, and newcomer Gabourey Sidibe. A Lionsgate release.
CLOSING NIGHT Broken Embraces / Los abrazos rotos
Pedro Almodóvar, Spain, 2009; 128 min
Almodóvar's newest masterwork is a candy-colored emotional roller that barrels from comedy to romance to melodrama to the darker haunts of film noir and stars his muse, Penélope Cruz, in a multilayered story of a man who loses his sight and the love of his life. A Sony Pictures Classics release.
OTHER FILMS 36 Views of Saint-Loup Peak / 36 vues du Pic Saint-Loup
Jacques Rivette, France, 2009, 84 min
The legendary Jacques Rivette returns with an elegiac look at the final days of a small-time traveling circus.
Antichrist
Lars von Trier, Denmark, 2009, 109 min
Sure to be one of the year's most discussed films, Lars von Trier's latest chronicles a couple's efforts to find their love again after a tragic loss, which unleash hidden monsters lurking in their souls. An IFC Films release.
The Art of the Steal
Don Argott, USA, 2009, 101 min
Bound to be controversial, this intriguing account of the travails of the legendary Barnes collection of art masterworks and the foundation set up to protect it raises vital questions about public versus private "ownership" of art.
Bluebeard / La Barbe Bleue
Catherine Breillat, France, 2009, 78 min
Two sisters reading Charles Perrault's seventeenth-century tale of perhaps the first "serial killer" becomes a meditation on the enduring fascination with a character who has served as inspiration for countless novels, plays, and films.
Crossroads of Youth / Cheongchun's Sipjaro
An Jong-hwa, Korea, 1934, 73 min
The oldest surviving Korean film, this recently rediscovered masterwork will be presented with live musical accompaniment as well as a benshi (off-screen narrator).
Eccentricities of a Blonde
Manoel de Oliveira, Portugal/France, 2009, 64 min
One hundred years young, director Manoel de Oliveira returns with another gem: a wry, moving tale of a pure, if frustrated, love, adapted from a novel by Eça de Queiroz.
Everyone Else / Alle Anderen
Maren Ade, Germany, 2009, 119 min
The ups and downs, joys and jealousies, frustrations and fulfillments of a young couple on a summer holiday provide the premise for this brilliant meditation on modern coupling.
Ghost Town
Zhao Dayong, China, 2008, 180 min
A revealing, one-of-a-kind look at China far away from the glittering urban skylines, this portrait of a contemporary rural community in China offers extraordinary insights into everything from the role of religion to gender relationships to the place of social deviants.
Hadewijch
Bruno Dumont, France, 2009, 105 min
A young woman searches for an absolute experience of faith — and in the process grows increasingly distant from the world around her.
Independencia
Raya Martin, Philippines, 2009, 77 min
Maverick director Raya Martin offers a kind of alternative history of the Philippines and its struggle for nationhood in this stylized tale of a mother and son hiding in the mountains after the U.S. takeover of the islands.
Inferno / L'Enfer
Serge Bromberg, France, 2009, 100 min
A film buff's delight, this Serge Bromberg film resurrects the surviving footage of Clouzot's aborted, experimental film L'Enfer, revealing a slightly mad but beguiling project that will always remain one of cinema's great "what ifs."
Kanikosen
Sabu, Japan, 2009, 109 min
Kanikosen is a highly stylized, stirring, manga-flavored update of a classic Japanese political novel, with labor unrest aboard a crab-canning ship evolving into a cry of a younger generation aching to break the bonds of conformity.
Lebanon
Samuel Maoz, Israel, 2009, 92 min
Debut director Samuel Maoz takes us inside an Israeli tank and the emotions of its crew during the 1982 invasion of Lebanon.
Life During Wartime
Todd Solondz, USA, 2009, 96 min
Preparing for his bar mitzvah, a young man must deal with his divorced mother's prospective fiancé as well as rumors that his own father is not really dead.
Min Yé
Souleymane Cissé, Mali/France, 2009, 135 min
A work of startling originality, Souleymane Cissé's first film in over a decade insightfully and incisively chronicles the dissolution of an upper-middle-class African marriage.
Mother/ Maedo
Bong Joon-ho, South Korea, 2009, 128 min
Convinced that her son has been wrongly accused of murder, a widow throws herself body and soul into proving his innocence. Kim Hye-ja in the title role gives perhaps the performance of the year.
Ne Change Rien
Pedro Costa, France/Portugal, 2009, 103 min
A shimmering valentine, Costa's latest is less a portrait than a kind of visual homage to the artistry of actor and singer Jeanne Balibar.
Police Adjective / Politist, adj.
Corneliu Porumboiu, Romania, 2009, 115 min
Discovering a teenager with hashish, a young policeman hesitates about turning him in. But his supervisor has other ideas in this beautifully acted, provocative modern morality play. An IFC Films release.
Room and a Half / Poltory komnaty ili sentimentalnoe puteshtvie na rodinu
Andrey Khrzhanovsky, Russia, 2009, 131 min
Former animator Andrey Khrzhanovsky combines scripted scenes, archival footage, several types of animation, and surrealist flights of fancy to create this stirring portrait of poet Josef Brodsky and the postwar Soviet cultural scene. A Seagull Films release.
Sweetgrass
Ilisa Barbash, Lucien Castaing-Taylor, USA, 2009, 105 min
This breathtaking chronicle follows an ever-surprising group of modern-day cowboys as they lead an enormous herd of sheep up and then down the slopes of the Beartooth Mountains in Montana on their way to market.
Sweet Rush / Tatarak
Andrzej Wajda, Poland/France, 2009, 85 min
Celebrated master Andrzej Wajda returns with a bold, experimental work that juxtaposes a story about a terminally doctor's wife rediscovering romance with a heart-rending monologue written and performed by actress Krystyna Janda about the death of her husband.
To Die Like a Man / Morrer como um homen
João Pedro Rodrigues, Portugal, 2009, 138 min
This touching, finely etched portrait follows Tonia, a veteran drag performer, confronting younger competition and her boyfriend's demands that she undergo a sex change.
Vincere
Marco Bellocchio, Italy, 2009, 129 min
Mussolini's "secret" marriage to Ida Dalser, afterward completely denied by Il Duce, along with the son born from the relationship, becomes the springboard for this visually ravishing meditation on the fascist manipulation of history. An IFC Films release.
White Material
Claire Denis, France, 2009, 100 min
A handful of Europeans try to make sense of — and survive — the chaos happening all around them in an African country torn apart by civil war.
The White Ribbon / Das weisse band
Michael Haneke, Austria/France, 2009, 144 min
The Palme d'Or winner at this year's Cannes Film Festival, this is a starkly beautiful meditation on the consequences of violence — physical, emotional, spiritual — in a Northern German town on the eve of World War I. A Sony Pictures Classics release.
The Wizard of Oz
Victor Fleming, 1939, USA, 103 min
The 70th anniversary of the timeless classic presented in a spectacular newly restored edition makes the film a new experience even for those who practically have it memorized. A Warner Bros. release.
If anyone had asked Dylan and Carys, they would have told them that anything that can be turned on to test is right out.
Short of hiding a saw in a cake, something we once witnessed the McDuck family do on Ducktales, the Douglas family has just participated in the most cartoonish prison smuggling attempt we've ever heard of. Cameron Douglas, who is in custody under accusations of running a bicoastal crystal-meth-selling operation, was sitting in a conference room in the Pearl Street Courthouse in downtown Manhattan when his girlfriend, Kelly Sott, passed him some personal items for him to use in prison. One of them was an electric toothbrush, inside of which were hidden several dime bags of heroin. Of course it's outrageous that someone would attempt such a move in a house of justice, but what's even more upsetting is that it's the kind of ruse any 11-year-old at summer camp would have found pathetic. Really? What, there were no teddy bears whose arms you could fill with cocaine and resew back on? No flashlights you could reload with Special K? No comic book you could leaf with LSD tabs? This is amateur hour, here. Even Cameron's 6- and 9-year-old half-siblings, pictured here with him, Sott, and their parents, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, could have told her to at least try cutting out the cushion space in a pair of Nike Airs.
We were a bit surprised to see Michael Bloomberg's name appear on Vanity Fair's best-dressed list. We weren't the only ones, of course. But while the mayor's never been known for his sartorial sense, the Observer's Jason Horowitz thinks the mayor's increasingly "goofy" wardrobe—much like his decision to join Twitter—is part of an effort to spice up a pretty unexciting reelection campaign and keep himself from dying of boredom:
This week, Vanity Fair named Mayor Michael Bloomberg one of the world's best-dressed men. The judges apparently missed the mustard-colored shirt he wore to the Pakistan Day parade, or the powder-blue socks he wore to the Yankees game.
Mr. Bloomberg is trying to keep up the appearance of a mayoral candidate in a real race throughout one of the soggiest, least eventful and politically anticlimactic summers in memory. He's wearing goofy clothes, speaking Medford, Mass.–accented Spanish and Twittering his random musings.
And, in an extraordinary display of commitment to retail campaigning, according to his aides, he's eating pizza on a regular basis.
As journalists, business cards are thrust upon us by the truckload and seldom worth pocketing. But check out this beauty. Billionaire Stewart Rahr, who ranks 397 on the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans, and goes by "Stewie Rah Rah," says he doesn’t give out his card often. But at a recent party on a sprawling Gramercy roof terrace, Rah Rah produced one of the best cards Daily Intel has ever seen. The front of the mock billion-dollar bill shows a picture of Rahr golfing with Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, and bears the slogan, "If I don't tell you how great I am, who will?" The back includes a picture of his $45 million Hamptons home, where he hosts charity benefits.
The deeply tanned "drugstore cowboy" — who offered the card with a wide, white smile — is a pharmaceutical distributor and a lender to small pharmacy franchises. He responds quickly to e-mails, it turns out, but is quick to assure (in the third person) that "Rah Rah is a very busy boy." He signs such e-mails "Stewie Rah Rah, Number One Fun Guy!" We don't disagree.
Alton Towers, a water park in the U.K., has banned male guests from wearing Speedos. A rep for the park said the newly enacted ban is not a desperate reach for publicity. The "extreme measure" is meant "to prevent embarrassment among fellow members of the public and to maintain the family-friendly atmosphere at the resort." The Guardian reports:
"While women may hail the return of the skimpy bathers, the style itself is not deemed public or family friendly, and therefore we are requesting that male swimmers wear more appropriate styles such as boardshorts."
... It is not yet clear whether male bikini waxing, or the full back, sack and crack is being contemplated. Alton Towers said not only men were involved — some women bathers had turned up wearing thongs.
Sure, water parks are gross- and unclean-seeming enough as it is, and the last thing anyone about to ride down a water slide wants to see is a man who needs a front-and-back bikini wax go ahead of them. Plus most of those men probably don't have the body of Noah Mills. But isn't the Speedo the very fabric — quite literally and figuratively — of European swim culture? And this ban is even coming from an amusement park that named their kiddie pool the Little Leak. First topless sunbathing goes, and now this. Nipples on the runways could be next.
Best of! Most of! Satiate the need! Although a quick search for "Morrissey Greatest Hits" on Amazon.com returns sixteen results, that isn't stopping his old record labels from issuing more greatest-hits packages. However, none other than the Mozzer himself is urging his fans not to pick up these obvious cash grabs. He released a statement that begins with the following: "Morrissey would like it to be known that he has not been consulted by EMI/HMV/Parlophone with regards to two forthcoming boxed sets of Morrissey singles. Morrissey does not approve such releases and would ask people not to bother buying them." Bonus points for referring to himself in the third person, but we would've rather seen him work in a "sycophantic slags" reference in there. [Rock & Roll Daily/Rolling Stone]
AP - If you're 5 years old, or under the influence of some sort of hallucinogenic drug, "Ponyo" is probably awesome. Clearly, these are the ideal scenarios in which to watch the latest animated fantasy from Japanese writer-director Hayao Miyazaki.
What unreconstructed emo boys are we: As Bon Iver, a mysterious young beardo holed up in a cabin with an acoustic guitar and a broken heart, Justin Vernon held us in the palm of his trembling hand. Now — reporting on we’re not sure what, from a studio, with his wizardly sound-collage friends Collections of Colonies of Bees — he’s Volcano Choir, and we’re back in his thrall. “Island, IS” is a double dose of headphone music: His ecstasy-skirting vocals combine with a dizzingly layered backdrop, and the tension between the two is exquisite. No indie rocker can touch him right now.
At last, one of the most contentious, yet painfully unentertaining, issues left dangling by the New York State Senate chaos earlier this summer has been put to rest. Governor Paterson signed into law a measure granting Mayor Bloomberg control of the New York City school system. The bill, which was approved by the State Assembly during a regular session and then finally by the State Senate in an extraordinary session last week, gives the office of the mayor control of the schools until 2015. Earlier in the summer, City Hall had to hastily reconstitute a Board of Education after their mandate lapsed owing to Senate squabbling, but the panel swiftly handed power back to Bloomberg. Now Hizzoner has basically everything he wanted, with a bit more transparency and parental participation thrown in — and all the little children will go back to school as normal in a few weeks, with backpacks slung over one shoulder and Farley's Fruit Snacks for the lucky kids. Oh, wait, they have those wheeled, carry-on-style backpacks, now, don't they? And 100 Calorie Packs? God, we're old.
In an interview with the A.V. Club today, Jon Hamm discusses the instantly iconic promo poster for Mad Men's third season, which used no Photoshopping and actually required him to sit in standing water for a full Saturday: "I'm sure they could have done some kind of photo trickery, but this makes for a better story, and it’s way cooler to go build it and do it for reals" (our emphasis). Also, he swears he didn't pee once the entire time. [AV Club]
Apparently flip-flops are not so much shoes as disease carriers that could lead to boils, skin infections, and even death. A lab test of flip-flops reveals the terrifying microbes clinging to someone's flip-flops included Staph aureus, which can kill if it enters the bloodstream and goes untreated. If you're lucky, it'll just give you boils. [Daily Intel]
So, we were lucky enough to see the highly anticipated District 9 last night. And while we're going to hold off on giving you anything resembling an actual review of the film, suffice it to say it's one of the freshest and most original pictures we have seen in quite some time. And even though we found ourselves totally engrossed with the film during its first hour, we'll admit that our minds wandered a bit during the second half of the picture. During that time, we mainly found ourselves thinking "Wow, if Neill Blomkamp can do a film like this on a $30 million budget, what kinds of amazingness could he have pulled off with 165 million of Fox and Univeral's dollars on a Halo movie?" Fortunately, the seven-minute test film that Blomkamp put together for his Halo pitch is still alive on YouTube (and we've got if for you below). As awesome as it is, we're fairly certain the Halo ship has sailed and that neither Blomkamp nor his executive producer and guardian angel Peter Jackson would be interested in returning to the project. That said, last time we checked, Gore Verbinski had turned his back on Bioshock ... we're just sayin'!
Frank DiPascali, the chief financial officer of Bernie Madoff's investment advisory business, appeared in Federal District Court in Lower Manhattan today, where he is in the process of pleading guilty to charges of fraud, money laundering, and falsifying financial records for Bernie Madoff. In court, the Queens native, described as a “street-smart New Yorker” by former Madoff investors, told the judge that the business his employer of 33 years ran was
"all fake. It was all fictitious. It was wrong, and I knew it was wrong at the time."
DiPascali, who is being represented by Mukasey, the son of U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, faces at least twenty years on each of the ten counts he has been charged with, and has been reportedly working with prosecutors in exchange for a reduced sentence.
Front Page: Studio to bring playthings to the bigscreen -- Movies based on toys couldn't be hotter in Hollywood, with nearly every studio adapting playthings for the bigscreen.
When Hank Paulson's spokeswoman said he couldn't comment on the Times' big "conflict of interest" story on him yesterday because the publisher of his upcoming memoirs had "barred" him from recalling anything prepublication, we wondered who in the mousy publishing industry would have the brass ones to hold back the former Treasury secretary and Goldman Sachs CEO from defending his good name. The Journal's Katherine Rosman actually asked his publisher, Business Plus, about it, and surprise! There was no such agreement.
“Hank was an All-American football player at Dartmouth,” said Business Plus publisher and editor in chief Rick Wolff. “I don’t think it’s wise for my health to try to bar him from doing anything.”
But, if you must know the truth, the publisher went on, Paulson was just too busy and important to talk to such a piddling news organization as the Times. “Hank is in process of writing his book and quite frankly, he is on deadline," Wolff said. "He is too busy to go and sit for interviews.” And, Lord knows, if the man responded to every legitimate query about Goldman Sachs conspiracies and his core involvement in the multi-billion-dollar bailout of the financial sector that crossed his desk, he'd never get anything done.
Men.Style.com put together a slideshow of ridiculously expensive items they suggest men "upgrade" to this fall. We particularly enjoyed the $320 jeans with a leather inset in the crotch and inner thigh area, as if meant to keep a subway seat dry when the wearer wets himself. Also, the $700 varsity jacket in Tucson print, which is "classic yet still fashion." Which would you rather wear: these items or a tapestry of dream catchers? [Men.Style.com]
Kelly Clarkson appeared on the cover of Self this week, and while at first glance, the photo looks like your standard, run-of-the-mill magazine cover unrealistic-body-image Photoshop, there’s a little more to the story…
In response to claims that Clarkson’s body was obviously altered, Self’s editor-in-chief had this to say about cover shoots:
This is art, creativity and collaboration. It’s not, as in a news photograph, journalism. It is, however, meant to inspire women to want to be their best. That is the point…
Did we alter her appearance? Only to make her look her personal best. Did we publish an act of fiction? No. Not unless you think all photos are that.
Ohhh, that makes so much sense! Ladies, they’re not insulting you by bombarding you with body images that are graphically altered and thus literally unattainable, they’re inspiring you to be your best! So stop slacking and start gaining magical bodies, you uninspired normal-os!
It’s just like how they put pictures of time machines on the cover of every Scientific American issue so they can be like, “Why haven’t you invented this yet, f*ckheads?”
• All is not well at ABC. The hoped-for comeback of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? didn't happen and ratings have been so low, the network is now occasionally falling behind Univision. Yes, Univision. [NYT, B&C] • The owners of Uptown magazine are in talks to acquire Vibe, which shut down in June. What they plan to do with it is anybody's guess. [AdAge] • Tina Brown's Daily Beast is on the move: She's planning to launch a U.K. version of the Barry Diller-funded website within months. [Telegraph] • Not every magazine in America is struggling, apparently! [Newsweek] • Is MTV planning to leave Times Square? Quite possibly. [NYP]
• Today in wacko cable TV hosts: Geico is the latest advertiser to abandon Glenn Beck's show. And Lou Dobbs is sorta apologizing for suggesting that it would be a good idea to "put a stake" through the heart of Howard Dean. • Former media mogul Conrad Black's request to be freed from prison pending an appeal of his fraud conviction has been denied by the Supreme Court. [AP] • Self is under fire for Photoshopping its cover of Kelly Clarkson. Meanwhile, thw mag's editor-in-chief, Lucy Danzinger, is playing defense. [Daily Finance] • Sony Pictures will release the Michael Jackson movie on Oct. 30. [LAT] • Simon Cowell's new American Idol contract will earn him $45 million a year for the next three years. But he totally deserves it, right? Right? Hello? [THR] • Here's an idea: Maybe Maxim and Playboy should jump in bed together? [PC]
Kourtney Kardashian isn't surprised that people think she's into women.
In her and sister Khloé's new E! reality show, Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami, Ms. Kourtney...
First poor Elton John was hoodwinked into appearing in Brüno, and now he's somehow been tricked into performing on the title track on the reformed Alice in Chains's new album, Black Gives Way to Blue. "I've long been an admirer of Jerry Cantrell and when he asked me to play on 'Black Gives Way to Blue,' I was very flattered and couldn’t resist," says a person purporting to be John in a press release.
How did the small screen remember John Hughes? Why is TLC so defensive about Jon & Kate? And why should the Jonas Brothers stop following Miley Cyrus? Or start blaming Twilight?
The...
Financially-challenged photographer Annie Leibovitzwas sued last week by Art Capital Group, the high-end pawn shop that loaned her $24 million last year in exchange for the rights to her photography collection and her collection of real estate holdings in the West Village and upstate New York. It will be some time before we find out whether Leibovitz will get to hang on to her assets, but it seems she's already suffered one minor defeat in court. In a court ruling over whether Getty Images went behind Art Capital's back to negotiate a deal to represent Leibovitz on a freelance basis, New York State's highest court misspelled the name of the "world-renowned photographer" 37 times. Don't you just hate exceptions to the normally reliable "i before e, except after c" rule? [NYS Supreme Court, PDF]
SKIN
• Lady Gaga's new arm tattoo says (in German, natch), "In the deepest hour of the night, confess to yourself that you would die if you were forbidden to write. And look deep into your heart where it spreads its roots, the answer, and ask yourself, must I write?" [NYDN]
MAKEUP
• Angelia Jolie wore very little makeup to the screening of Inglourious Basterds in Los Angeles last night. [Beauty Counter/Style.com]
• The M.A.C. Dsquared2 makeup collection hits stores in October, but here's a sneak preview of it now. [Butterfly Diary]
NAILS
• Nude is supposedly the new hot toenail color because it matches your skin tone. Call us old-school, but we like real hues on toes. [Girls in the Beauty Department/Glamour]
HAIR
• A British hair salon offers an Aberdeen organic bull-sperm treatment, which features bull semen as one of its conditioning ingredients. The treatment is also referred to as "Viagra for hair." [Daily Beauty Reporter/Allure]
Jonathan Groff is about to have a big August. Tonight, the former star of Hair and Spring Awakening starts performances as Dionysus in The Bacchae at the Delacorte. On the 28th, he has his big-screen debut, as 24-year-old visionary concert promoter Michael Lang in Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock. In honor of these altered-state characters, New York made a valiant but futile attempt to get Groff drunk at a midtown wine bar. After the jump, some highlights from our sober encounter that didn’t make it into the magazine.
You’re half Mennonite and your dad raises horses. What’s changed back home in Pennsylvania since you came to the big city?
Um, now my dad has like, 50 fainting goats. Do you know what they are? When you scare them, they freeze and fall over. He actually got them when I was doing Spring Awakening. So when it’s time to feed the goats, he sings, “Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,” from the song “Totally Fucked,” and they come running. Isn’t that adorable? Actually, when I was doing Spring Awakening, my mom rented a school bus and picked the whole cast up in New York and we took a field trip down to the farm and spent the night in tents. My dad was SO excited to show them the fainting goats and how they come when he sings “blah, blah, blah, blah.”
You're Dionysus in The Bacchae — did you start drinking more to get in character?
Ha! No. It’s funny that I’m playing the god of wine and partying and that’s not who I am at all.
You didn’t get naked in Hair. Do you finally take it all off in The Bacchae?
No, I’m not naked at all, for once.
That’s disappointing.
No, it’s a good thing! People get so fixated on it. It just so happens that I’ve been involved in several projects in a row that involve nudity. It makes me giggle that people get so hung up on it.
Will they serve free wine at the show?
That would be perfect! But I don’t know if you can bring wine to your seat. I know they definitely allow food, because one day in Hair I went out in the audience to sing “Manchester, England,” and I ate some girl’s salad. I sort of shoved a couple forkfuls in the side of my mouth and didn’t get a chance to finish them till the song was over. It’s very hard to sing with salad in your mouth.
Did you regret the decision?
No, I’m totally glad that I did it. She was shocked. I was shocked that when I gave it back to her, she continued to eat the salad.
We would think your inability to actually control the weather at the Delacorte might make it difficult to convince people you’re a god.
Yeah, that’s one of the things that’s tricky about this role. The other day in rehearsals I very triumphantly slammed my thyrsus — this stick I carry around — on the ground and it hit me in the head. If you’re playing a god, you just can’t let that happen.
You have a bit of a reputation for spitting a lot while singing. Does the same thing happen when you’re just talking?
I’ve found myself spitting a lot in The Bacchae. I don’t know what it is. I guess I have a lot of saliva in my mouth. I actually don’t think about it too much, unless I’m in a good scene with someone and I can see it hitting their face.
You know, when we saw you in Hair at the Delacorte, we got so transfixed watching your spit hit the light that I didn’t notice everyone onstage had stripped.
What? You did NOT miss it because you were watching my spit! Oh my God! That is amazing. You are the only one. That’s very funny. Because at the end of act one — I’m sure Gavin [Creel] would agree — you are never as upstaged as an actor as you are in act one of Hair when you’re singing “Where Do I Go” and everyone’s like, "Um, can you move out of the way?"
You also play Michael Lang in Taking Woodstock this month. Did you meet him?
Yeah. He still lives in Woodstock with his wife and two kids. I’m 24 now; I was 23 when I made the movie. The idea of being a 24-year-old and making Woodstock happen is pretty fucking mind-blowing.
You wear a leather vest and no shirt for the entire movie. Is that Michael’s real vest?
No, but I have pictures of the real vest on my camera phone. [pulls out very old Treo and starts scrolling through photos] Here’s Michael Lang. This is me at Michael’s house with his two kids on his actual motorcycle. That’s me at his house in his actual vest. And that’s me in his actual vest on his actual motorcycle. I feel like such a nerd that I took all these photos, but I was so excited.
Could Woodstock ever happen again?
Well, in the final scene in the movie, I come on on a white horse and I say, “We’re all gonna go out to San Francisco. We’re gonna do a concert with the Rolling Stones. It’s going to be beautiful.” And, well …
Do you believe the movie’s message that acid can cure anything?
As big as drugs obviously were in the culture, it was more about, to me at least, optimism, and positivity, and loving your neighbor. The incredible thing about that weekend was, I mean, they thought they were going to have 100,000 people and they ended up having 450,000 people. It was the third largest city in New York for that weekend. It was a disaster area. There were not enough bathrooms. It rained. And yet, no one was seriously injured or killed. Everybody came, lived, and celebrated, and left.
The trailer for the new Gossip Girl season is on the etherwebs, and if you thought those OMFG ads were pushing the envelope, wait’ll you see this use of an abbreviation that usually stands for the F-word!
Just kidding!!! It stands for “Fall.” Not f*ckc*nt.
Andy Kessler, a prominent figure on the New York skateboarding scene of the late seventies and early eighties, has died, according to Skateboarder magazine, which reports that the cause was an allergic reaction to a hornet sting the skateboarder suffered in Montauk. Kessler, who designed many of the city's skate parks, including those at Riverside Park, Pier 40, and in Brooklyn, was profiled in New York in 2005. "Everyone has their choice Kessler story," David Browne reported. "Like the day he refused to move to the back of a crowded bus, telling the driver, “You move to the back. This place is a sardine can. I’ll drive the bus.”
The skaters aimed full speed at the concave wood. “They were these sick, sick guys,” recalls Ricky Mujica. “Fifty percent of the time they’d kill themselves.”
“The next thing we know,” recalls Mujica, “Andy is thrown out by the driver, and his skateboard comes flying out after him. People didn’t like skateboarders back then.” After chasing the bus for four blocks, Kessler smashed the window with his board. Then there was the time Kessler refused to don a helmet at a skate park in New Jersey and was chased by guards trying to force him to wear one. Fights were commonplace. “I was a good skateboarder,” Kessler admits, “but a real prick to most people.”
Not really, though. Per Skateboarder: "He will be greatly missed."
Two men have pulled off Britain’s biggest ever gem raid in just two minutes at a Mayfair jewellers.
After being let in through security doors, the smartly dressed robbers grabbed 43 items valued at £40million from Graff Diamonds in New Bond Street last week.
Because we simply can’t resist, here is a vicious re-enactment of the gem heist that occurred earlier today (WARNING – these images are as disturbing as they are factual):
An amazing thing happened this afternoon. Perhaps it was the respect and deference that people generally pay to the president (as opposed to some lowly congressman or senator) that made President Obama's town hall today in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, so much calmer than almost any we've seen anywhere else. Or maybe it was a testament to how seriously New Englanders take their town halls that no rowdiness interrupted the cordial discussion that took place. Despite what people may assume, the crowd wasn't staged; 70 percent of attendees were chosen in a random online lottery and the questions were not prescreened. Even when Obama actively sought out questions from people who were critical of health-care reform, they were polite and civilized. There were plenty of protests outside (and one menacing guy with a gun), but inside, it was almost as if people were interested in actually listening to what Obama had to say — especially about the ways that health-care reform could help those who already have insurance. And, wouldn't you know it, it's amazing how much more informative a town hall can be (wait, there aren't any death panels?) when people aren't booing, screaming about our impending transformation into the Soviet Union, or shouting down the person trying to answer their question.
Bernie Madoff's right-hand man, Frank DiPascali, will joining his former boss behind bars in the near future. The former chief financial officer of Madoff's investment firm, DiPascali pleaded guilty this afternoon to all the counts against him, including securities fraud, falsifying records and international money laundering, as part of a deal with prosecutors. "Mr. DiPascali said at the plea hearing that the transactions were "all fake. It was all fictitious. It was wrong, and I knew it was wrong at the time." [WSJ]
"I actually think his style is cute because he has a signature look which is pretty advanced for a teenager," Paper's editorial director Mickey Boardman says of 18-year-old NYC Prep star PC Peterson's style. StyleList goes on to assert the city is laden with PC copycats:
PC-alikes in New York have copied his product-heavy vertical hair-do, unshaven jaw, and large cotton scarf looped once around the neck in the style of the Arabic shemagh. It is accompanied by a tight tee in white or a pale color, and a v-neck cardigan buttoned just below the chest. His occasional blazers with contrast trimmed, notched lapels are not yet so common, but may start to appear in the fall.
But by that time PC will probably be on to fall's new, hip, ugly sweaters. We suggest men wait for season two to debut before making any rash purchases.
Cityfile has partnered with Dr. Helen Fisher to bring you the latest insight into love and romantic attraction. A renowned biological anthropologist, Dr. Fisher has conducted extensive research in the fields of human sexuality, love and marriage. She serves as Chief Scientific Advisor for the internet dating site Chemistry.com.
Question: What leads people to cheat? Can cheating be okay? And can a serial cheater ever change?
Answer: There are lots of reasons people cheat...
Some people want to get caught, so they can patch up a marriage; other people do it get out of a marriage. Some seek attention. Some want to feel more attractive. Some just want more sex. Others crave drama or danger. A few are looking for revenge. Many more want to prove that they're still young.
But it's worth noting that cheating is universal. I've looked at adultery in 42 societies and found it in every one. So I suspect there are some biological underpinnings to cheating. A million years ago a wedded man who had an affair was more likely to have extra children, and an adulterous woman received extra food and protection for the children she already had. If these kids lived, they probably passed along this appetite for adultery to the next generation. But I don't think men are, on average, more adulterous than women. If they were, who are all these men sleeping with?
As for the last part of that question, yes, people can and do change. But it often takes a shock of some sort. Some people quit drinking and taking drugs. Some have a spiritual experience or narrowly escape death. Some get caught and realize the importance of their marriage. Some people just fall in love with someone so deeply that cheating no longer holds a thrill. But typically something needs to change before this happens. But it's worth noting that research suggests that some people are biologically more prone to adultery than others. There's a specific gene involved in this; it's been called the "monogamy gene." This isn't to say that biology is destiny. Some people just have a bigger battle with Mother Nature.
Visit Chemistry.com today to complete your free personality test and get your first chemistry inspired matches FREE!
Summit Entertainment today released brand-new footage from The Twilight Saga: New Moon — sixteen whole seconds, in fact! But if this is supposed to ease fans' worries over Taylor Lautner's franchise-endangering case of Restless Leg Syndrome, then mission not accomplished: In the clip, we catch only a second-long glimpse of Lautner's leg, which is forcibly restrained by co-star Kristen Stewart, who is clearly terrified she might be accidentally kicked in the face. This does not inspire confidence.
Bungalow 8 proprietress Amy Sacco has a reality show in the works. (Or at least Bravo is now "testing" out such a concept.) Less than a month ago, Sacco told WWD that she'd recruited a big bunch of her friends to take part in the program—so many people, in fact, that Sacco told the reporter that while it's technically a reality show, "I don't know if anyone's going to believe my reality." Today the Daily Newsthrows a little water on the concept, suggesting that very few famous faces will ultimately appear on the show, since many of the boldfaced friends Sacco calls her friends "don't want to be seen on camera doing reality TV."
"She's losing 'cool' points—and friends," a source tells the News. "This is a really bad idea."
So which is it? That's hard to say, although it's also hard to imagine that there would be a shortage of semi-famous people willing to stand around and sip a cocktail in exchange for a few minutes of airtime. But it seems that one other reason people are griping is that by opening up her life to a reality show, Sacco appears to be selling out her friends:
It's strange, because Amy built her reputation with celebrities by being super-respectful and secretive about their comings and goings—and now she'll be doing the opposite," the insider gripes.
Of course, that presupposes that Sacco is still the nightlife queen she was a few years ago. And considering that the News describes her current activities as "barely relevant," that shouldn't present much of a problem, should it?
Viewers will probably end up winning either way. If Bravo needs to add some recognizable faces to the mix, we'll all be treated to a series of appearances by various cast members of the Real Housewives of New York City and NYC Prep. And if things get particularly bad, Bravo could always stage a cage match between Sacco and her longstanding enemy, restaurant owner Nello Balan. So maybe it's all a blessing in disguise?
If you liked season two of The Wire, you might enjoy the New York inspector general's report on the corruption at Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, which was released today. If you like the idea that government agencies can function without corruption, however, you might find the results of the two-year investigation infuriating. The Commission, an $11 million-a-year bi-state agency that was created in the fifties to stem mob activity at the docks, devolved into the same kind of corruption it was created to watch over in the first place. At the heart of it, of course, was a cast of characters that would be perfectly at home on your stereotypical HBO drama. Let's meet some of them.
Michael J. Madonna: A former police officer and union representative, the New Jersey commissioner was generous with his friends, whether it meant using a boat paid for by Homeland Security to fend off waterborne attacks to ferry them across the river during Fleet Week, or hooking them up with special parking passes. He was also always good for getting jobs for their delinquent acquaintances, which he did with James Sutera, a friend of a friend. After failing the police examination twice, Sutera actually scored a 97.8, the highest recorded grade ever achieved at the Water Commission. Alas: Sutera was not content with a legacy as a civil-service genius, and then “repeatedly bragged that the 'big guy,' as he referred to Madonna, had given him the test.” He has now been fired.
Jon Deutsch: Among other things, the commission’s general counsel helped a friend convicted of federal racketeering charges conceal his felon status so he could continue to operate on the waterfront and intervened when another friend was arrested as part of a murder investigation. His excuse: "I was a prosecutor in Union County. Jersey's a little different than New York. I mean, we know people."
Frank Nastasi: The commission’s auditing director was resourceful. Not only did he run his own accounting business out of his commission office, he put his city computer to use in pursuit of his favorite hobby: “From approximately 2006 to his retirement in 2008, Natasi accessed or attempted to access pornographic material ... many of Natasi's attempts to access pornography and lingerie websites were blocked by software on the Water Commission network, however, Natasi became more creative and searched for websites which included items such as nude art."
Annie (Shenae Grimes) is in some big trouble this season, owing to the fact that she murdered a man in the season-one finale of 90210. Things take a turn for the worse when her victim's...
Rachel Rachel Roy, the designer's high-low line for Macy's, hit stores this week. The collaboration features clothes, accessories, and footwear, but only eight items are available online, including a white T-shirt with built-in chain necklaces for $59 and a black minidress with gold pyramid studs splattered on the front for $109. Timing is perfect for back-to-school, but we wouldn't necessarily pick any of these outfits for the first day of class. [FabSugar]
The Urban Dictionary word of the day on November 5, 2008, was "Obama baby," a child conceived during an act of celebratory sex on the night of President Obama's electoral victory. It was theorized that if such sex was widespread enough, there would be something of a baby boom nine months later. But the time for that has passed without any discernible surge — even in Chicago! "Births are now predominantly planned and not very responsive to good news," explains Donald Bogue, a University of Chicago demographer and sociologist. Which is a good thing for the continuation of the human race, we guess, in Times Like These. [Chicago Tribune]
Fox announced plans to televise a two-hour (!) documentaryabout Nadya “Octomom” Suleman next Wednesday, including never-before-seen private footage of the family and exclusive Suleman interviews.
Give me one reason to believe this won’t be a trainwreck, Mr. Fox Executive Man:
“It’s emotional, it’s compelling, you’re watching her go from miracle birth woman to tabloid fodder,” said Fox president of alternative Mike Darnell. “You don’t even need narration, it’s incredible footage. It’s a little bit of a trainwreck, and it’s really entertaining to watch.”
Oh. You admit it. Well then.
I assume the last half-hour of the movie (in the “tabloid fodder” portion of her story) will be Nadya selling the rights of her exclusive story to Fox so that Fox can nationally televise the story of how she tragically became tabloid fodder?
I also assume this special won’t prevent VH1 from turning her story into a three-season epic reality series (likely beginning that Thursday), right?
Here's a shot of Whoopi Goldberg's living room in the Soho loft that she's currently selling for $3.99 million, as teased by Cindy Adams this morning. As you can see, it's spacious, well appointed, with tasteful finishings and modern appliances. In other photos you can also see signs of normal life: vacuum cleaners, air conditioner window units, and a washer-dryer in the living room behind the bar (Hey — Whoopi doesn't drink!). Being avid watchers of The View, we know that the co-host is trying to "Kick the butts." She's made a fuss of her trouble trying to quit smoking cigarettes. And we counted — we only saw one standing ashtray in the whole apartment. Good for you, Whoops.
EVENTS
• The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Thrift Shop celebrates its fall opening, offering menswear, womenswear, designer shoes, handbags, and more. Hermès ties are $75 to $85 (originally $170) and scarves are $185 (originally $375). Through 8/15. 1440 Third Ave., nr. 81st St. (212-535-1250); W (10—7), Th—F (10—5:30), S (11—5).
• Stash Consignment hosts its first summer sale. Find merchandise from labels like Balenciaga, Chloè, Dolce & Gabbana, Thakoon, Prada, Peter Som, and more for up to 75 percent off. RSVP to weiskopf@sunshinesachs.com. Through 8/12. 1182 Broadway, nr. 28th St.; 11—7.
Maybe he should have stuck with hockey. Tim Barakett, the founder of Atticus Capital and possibly the only hedge funder in history to turn down an opportunity to play professional hockey to go Harvard Business School, announced today that he's shutting down his flagship fund and handing $3 billion back to his investors. "After 15 years of being singularly focused on building and managing Atticus, I believe it is time to reassess my future," Barakett said in a letter to investors. On a more positive note, you can rest assured Steve Cohen's hockey rink will see a lot more action over the coming months. [WSJ]
If this is true, we suppose it's the strongest evidence yet that Juliet's bomb-detonating time-reset thingy at the end of Lost's season-five finale actually worked: Greg Grunberg — the childhood friend of J.J. Abrams who played the pilot of on Lost's first-ever episode — tells TV Guide he's been asked to return for the show's sixth and final season. His return isn't a sure thing, since he'll need time off from his regular gig playing Matt on Heroes, but he says he's in if NBC okays the vacation days. Since Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse promised no more flashbacks next year, this pretty much means Flight 815 landed safely in Los Angeles back in September of 2004, thus undoing everything that's ever happened on the show. This should certainly save Lost latecomers a bunch of money on DVDs.
After building a career as a curator in L.A., Greg Armas turned his discerning eye to fashion, opening Scout in Los Angeles with partner Joey Grana. Last year, he set out on his own to launch Assembly on the Lower East Side, a well-edited stash of menswear, womenswear, accessories, and limited-edition collaborations. This summer, he debuted his own menswear line, offering slouchy Italian linen blazers, cashmere backpacks, fitted button-downs, and handworked knits for fall. We caught up with Armas to talk about design collaborations, antique hunting, and why no New York woman should leave home without a pair of shades.
What prompted the move east?
There's a very different sense of style in New York. In New York, people are more conscious of fabrics and the work that goes into garments. L.A. is a jeans and T-shirt kind of culture.
Is there a certain aesthetic you're looking for when you buy for the store?
I'm drawn to handmade garments, and fabric is very important. I don't sell cheap clothes, so if I'm selling a $400 sweater it needs to look and feel like a $400 sweater in terms of construction.
What kind of person shops at Assembly?
They're very international, well-informed shoppers — they know what else is out there.
Why did you launch your own collection?
There were certain staples that I was hunting for every season: a slim, pleated pant, a linen blazer, a fitted button-down shirt. At a certain point, it just made sense to make those items myself instead of tracking them down from other designers.
A linen blazer and jodhpur trousers from the fall collection.Photo courtesy of Assembly New York.
What's the first designer item you bought?
I do remember taking a pair of Sears jeans when I was young and sanding and bleaching them myself to alter the wash. That was the first time I remember really experimenting with fashion. As far as labels go, my first item was probably a used Gucci sweater.
Where do you like to shop in New York?
I go to the market at the Annex over the weekend for antiques. It's like a little piece of Paris. Also, Houndstooth, a vintage store in Brooklyn.
How would you describe your style?
I wear a lot of black — though I'm wearing my "summer blacks" now because it's so hot. I tend to look a bit more serious; I don't really dress with irony.
What trends are you appreciating right now?
I'm liking the different lengths in menswear, the rolled-up pants and sleeves. I don't like tight cuffs around my wrists or ankles, so I usually roll them anyway.
Any trends you're hating?
In general, when people disregard their own body types. A girl will put on a little baby-doll dress when really it's not right for her; she should have a defined waistline. Likewise, a lot of men dress without regard for their height or stature. I have a great respect for Rick Owens, but a lot of men are dressing like they rolled out of bed and put on their girlfriends' clothes: super-skinny jeans paired with drapey, loose tops.
What one item should every man have in his closet?
A nice leather wallet.
And every woman?
A pair of sunglasses. Sunglasses seem important for women in New York; maybe it has something to do with the six-to-one girl-to-guy ratio. I just feel like girls are prowled on so hard here that sunglasses can provide a kind of deterrence.
Expectations are high for NBC's new Thursday-night comedy, Community. Starring Joel McHale and Chevy Chase, the show doesn't debut on network TV until September 17, but starting today, you can watch it on Facebook. Remember, if you want to watch at work but don't want to get busted by your boss, keep your fingers hovering over those Alt and Tab keys! [Facebook]
US Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alexander Payne, seen here in 2007, will direct his fifth feature, an adaptation of the family drama novel "The Descendants," Hollywood media reported Tuesday. Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 11 Aug 2009 | 12:51 pm
Miss J's new book, Follow the Model: Miss J’s Guide to Unleashing Presence, Poise and Power, includes a story about how he was denied access to a Fashion Week show one season. He arrived at the show and a tall man told him, “I’m sorry to do this to you, but I’ve been told they really don’t want you here.” Miss J left without flying into a rage. When he later encountered the same tall man at a different event, the man told him the PR firm instructed him not to let Miss J into that particular show. Miss J writes:
I still don’t know why I was shut out of that show…As fate would have it, the same Brazilian designer later begged the producers of ANTM for two weeks to do our final runway show for cycle twelve with them in Brazil. All I have to say about that is God don’t like ugly, and Rosa Cha was such a a [sic] better choice and a total dream to work with.
This is why bitchery in fashion doesn't always pay. You never know when the person you treated like crap may suddenly be more famous and powerful than you.
Police executed a search warrant at a Las Vegas pharmacy Tuesday morning in connection with the investigation into Michael Jackson's death, a source familiar with the investigation told CNN.
Quentin Tarantino's new movie "Inglourious Basterds" comes with a film inside the film, a Nazi propaganda movie promoting the glory of Germany's Third Reich.
The most scrutinized family in America returned to television with back to back episodes that left the show's future dubious Source: FOXNews.com | 11 Aug 2009 | 11:49 am
Here’s Tom Brady posing in a wife-beater on the cover of the latest issue of Details, as either a deadbeat dad about to throw the remote at his son for blocking the game for the thousandth time, or a post-breakup mess sitting on the couch trying to pretend that he hasn’t already seen this Press Your Luck rerun.
Because it’s Tom Brady, I will conservatively guess that Details was not aiming for the latter theme, but your guess is as good as mine:
Other pics from Brady’s Details shoot after the jump…
The “Matt Damon”:
The “Matt Damon With Arms Uncomfortably Folded”:
And of course, the “No One Who Isn’t In A Details Photoshoot Ever Does This”:
In her first television interview since Mel Gibson went public with their relationship in April, his girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, made it clear to CNN: "I'd like to be known for my music."
AP - "South of Broad" (Nan A. Talese, 528 pages, $29.95), by Pat Conroy: Even outside the rigid social structures of adolescence, Leopold Bloom King is something of a freak.
A view of the offices of Dubai Media City based Al-Arabiya news TV channel. The scandal over a man boasting about his sex life on a popular satellite television show has sparked outbursts against the huge... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 11 Aug 2009 | 10:45 am
The building of the Lebanese Broadcating Corporation in the coastal town of Adma, north of Beirut. The scandal over a man boasting about his sex life on a popular satellite television show has sparked... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 11 Aug 2009 | 10:45 am
Here’s the trailer for The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, the final movie Heath Ledger filmed before his death, which co-stars Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell intermittently in Ledger’s role (for which Cate Blanchett will receive an Oscar nomination). The film is not to be confused with Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium or The Island of Dr. Moreau or Dr. T and the Women (actually it might be a sequel to Dr. T and the Women, gotta Wikipedia that…)
But otherwise, it looks pretty sweet, and should hopefully break Terry Gilliam’s odd drought since Fear and Loathing:
Yesterday, we brought you footage from possibly The Summer of 2009’s Busiest Actor Eric Banatearing it up over at The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. Well Bana’s “Hot & Hilarious Talk Show Tour” decided to take its act over to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon yesterday, and in case you had any doubts about his charm, this video all but proves that the man is basically a genius. A hot hot genius. Oh, and him and Jimmy play Australian Rules Football, which is sort of entertaining, though Bana remained pantsed the entire time.
Side note: I went to buy The Time-Travelers Wife at LAX last night, in the hopes I could picture Bana and then have Bana-inspired-dreams… but they were sold out. THE ENTIRE AIRPORT WAS SOLD OUT. Damn, women sure are predictable, aren’t we? All we want is a man who know how to love us, care for us, transcend space and time so he can visit us at any point in our human history for us. What’s the problem?
Thousands wait in a queue to enter the Sziget Festival on August 10, 2009 on Hajogyar (Shipyard) Island in Budapest. Hungary's Sziget music festival, one of the biggest in Europe, kicked off unofficially... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 11 Aug 2009 | 10:15 am
Fashion Wire Daily - They were the cool couple in black, he in a linen suit and she in a fabulous, form-fitting strapless leather dress. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie stopped traffic on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles on Monday, Aug. 10, as they joined Quentin Tarantino at the premiere of "Inglourious Basterds."
The following photos were snapped this weekend, as Jake Gyllenhaal (who we’ve sorely missed these past few months) was spotted competing and completing the Chilmark 5k Road Race in Martha’s Vineyard, where he placed 26th. And we gotta say the guy does look happy…
Alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllmost a little too happy. Trick joke! There is no such thing as too happy. And so is the lesson learned in Jake’s upcoming film The Specialist Olympics. (No relation to the Special Olympics — we would never joke about such a thing — rather a movie about a man who is a specialist at competing in the Olympics. Confusing title!)
More photos of Jake as an Olympics Specialist ahead.
Singer Jermaine Jackson performs at the Michael Jackson public memorial service in Los Angeles, California in July 2009. Jermaine is planning a special tribute concert for the late "King of Pop" in front... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 11 Aug 2009 | 9:27 am
It’s not news to anyone that Tone Loc’s two big hits, “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina,” are essentially the same song — actually, I suppose nothing about these two songs is technically news anymore — but nonetheless, hearing both songs playing simultaneously made me LOL (which is internet logo for “laugh oh lot!”)
Click below (preferably with headphones) for your favorite three minutes you’ll spend on the internet today:
Spongy red balls wait in a queue, separating two teams wired to smack their opponent. Within seconds, the players dip and dive like dolphins until one player stands alone, relishing in victory.
Over the past few months, Kelly Clarkson's weight has been a hot topic for critical bloggers. But the outspoken singer -- who has said "Of course celebrities have cellulite!" -- doesn't let the body bullies get her down.
Twilight star Ashley Greene is now threatening legal action against anyone circulating her nude photos online. Like Vanessa Hudgens, she has also decided not to take the crazy alternate approach and just not photograph herself nude and put it on the internet.
Simon Cowell is close to signing a three-year deal to remain with American Idol. It’ll actually only cover the next one season, though, cause there’ll be 130 finalists next time.
Country duo Brooks & Dunn are calling it quits after 20 years together. My headline for the announcement: “Brooks & Finished With Music Together.”
A palace in Vienna is planning a “high-profile” Michael Jackson tribute. It is about time that we can finally etc etc joke etc.
Also, if anyone’s in the Brooklyn area this Wednesday night, I’ll be hosting a Battle of the Bands at the Public Assembly in Williamsburg. This will consist of a bunch of really good bands playing, and me telling nerdy/embarrassing music stories in between sets. So basically, it is literally our generation’s Woodstock. Feel free to stop by.
Nude photographs of "Twilight" star Ashley Greene have hit the Internet - and the actress's attorney has a warning: post them and you'll likely get sued.
Style.coms Candy Pratts Price refers to Vogue Magazine as more than just a fashion bible she says it is a church and Wintour is not the Priestess, more like the Pope. Source: FOXNews.com | 11 Aug 2009 | 7:52 am
DEA agents are currently searching a Las Vegas pharmacy believed to be the source of the deadly propofol that was allegedly administered by Michael Jacksons personal physician Conrad Murray just hours before the June 25 death of the King of Pop. Source: FOXNews.com | 11 Aug 2009 | 3:58 am
Best-selling country duo Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn posted a message on their Web site Monday saying they agreed to "call it a day" after 20 years of making music together. Source: FOXNews.com | 11 Aug 2009 | 3:18 am
Joe Jonas is moving up the movie-star ladder.
I just got word that Joe is close to joining Hollywood hotshots like Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Patrick...
Just in case you weren't certain, Michael Jackson is "not buried yet."
Shooting down published reports (and backing up what we reported yesterday), father Joe...
OK, we admit: We're not entirely convinced American Idol is soooo much better without Paula Abdul. The woman, after all, does make unscripted TV soooo deliciously unscripted.
But by...
It was almost as if we saw a glimpse of old and fun Angelina Jolie out in action last night at the Inglourious Basterds premiere in L.A. Even though she donned her typical black getup, the...
There's no denying Channing Tatum can dance.
We all seen his smooth moves in both Step Up flicks and know that his undeniable talent helped him boogie his way into wedded...
Kourtney Kardashian isn't surprised that people think she's into women.
In her and sister Khloé's new E! reality show, Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami, Ms. Kourtney...
How did the small screen remember John Hughes? Why is TLC so defensive about Jon & Kate? And why should the Jonas Brothers stop following Miley Cyrus? Or start blaming Twilight?
The...
Financially-challenged photographer 
Bungalow 8 proprietress 
Annie (Shenae Grimes) is in some big trouble this season, owing to the fact that she murdered a man in the season-one finale of 90210. Things take a turn for the worse when her victim's...
Fox announced plans to televise a 
Twilight star Ashley Greene is now 