AP - The Latin music world celebrated 100 million records sold, 1,500 songs written and 30 years of recording, all by one artist, Mexico's beloved Juan Gabriel.
 Us Magazine | 'This Is It': Does the Michael Jackson documentary redeem or fail to acquit? Los Angeles Times The posthumous Michael Jackson documentary, “This Is It,” reported less-than-impressive numbers on opening night but has since garnered hope with its increasing ticket sales, says our Company Town blog. The box-office surge is partially due to its ... 'This Is It' album follows movie to top of the charts Michael Jackson Soundtrack Tops US Album Chart Arts, Briefly Michael Jackson Takes 'It' to the Top |
Justin Timberlake went solo to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Board of Governors gala—but that doesn't mean Jessica Biel didn't get a shout-out.
Just not by...
 China Daily | Mariah Carey shows her ugly side in 'Precious' Los Angeles Times You'd be forgiven for not recognizing Mariah Carey in her role as a dowdy welfare caseworker in the urban drama "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire." The legendarily high-maintenance pop diva underwent a soup-to-nuts physical ... Mariah Carey: I was emotionally abused 'Ugly juice' revives Mariah Carey Mariah Carey Reveals She Was "Emotionally" Abused |
Last week, comedy's heavyweights donned their finest embarrassing dad sweaters, broke out the bubbly—and the clip reel—and paid tribute to Bill Cosby, who was on the receiving end...
 AceShowbiz (blog) | Johnny Depp Traveling to "Tourist" ABC News The thriller remake "The Tourist" has run into another set of hiccoughs, with major players shifting around like luggage on a conveyor. Johnny Depp is in negotiations to play the male lead opposite Angelina Jolie, ... Depp Might Become The Tourist Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie to star in The Tourist? Johnny Depp Falling Into Angelina's Tourist Trap? |
Well, this sounds hot.
Johnny Depp is in talks to star with Angelina Jolie in The Tourist, a remake of a French thriller in which Depp would play an American abroad who gets swept up in...
Rihanna finally spoke out about domestic violence this week. What took her so long?
—via the Answer B!tch mailbox
She has broken her silence! All over the place! In...
Another suspect is down for the count.
Los Angeles police confirmed to E! News Wednesday that Jonathan Ajar, 27, another suspected member of a burglary ring that hit up the houses of...
"I never had that feeling that I was going to be portrayed as the villain this season," last night's Biggest Loser eliminee, Tracey Yukich, told us today.
What?...
Reuters - There isn't much that's fine in "Everybody's Fine," an embarrassing misfire for Kirk Jones, who once gave us the exhilarating comedy "Waking Ned Devine," and for Miramax, a storied company now reduced to little more than a film library.
AP - Cameron Diaz and James Marsden have a terrible moral dilemma in Richard Kelly's "The Box": Press a button on a mysterious container, they'll get $1 million, and someone they don't know will die.
Bianca in Palm Beach, Fla.: OMFG! Please help! I am now just hearing of this ridiculous complaint that the Parent Television Council is making against next Monday's episode of Gossip Girl,...
Valentino wasn't sure if he'd get Anna Wintour a birthday present last night at the party for the DVD release of Matt Tyrnauer's documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor, held the same day as the Vogue editor's 60th birthday. "I don't know if I will. I am leaving here in one week," he told us. "I don't think so. I will just send her these flowers." She can't be easy to shop for, which is partly why Erin Fetherston didn't have plans to send a gift, either. "I don't think I have the power to give that woman anything she'd need," Fetherston said. "She's an incredible lady, she deserves the utmost respect and admiration from all of us. And I would make Anna an 'Anna Rocks!' T-shirt." Fetherston wouldn't expect her to wear it. "But I think she would enjoy other people wearing it."
Daphne Guinness — tottering around expertly in fall 2009 Nina Ricci heels — said she didn't know Anna well enough to send anything. "I don't think she needs anything, really. I'd give her what I'd give anybody — love," Guinness said. "I'm a Scorpio, too. My birthday is Monday."
Does she have birthday plans? "I'm going to eat a sandwich and then do Bikram yoga. That sounds nice, right?" Sure, kind of! "And then I'm crawling under the covers and saying, 'Poor me!' It's a very strange month to have a birthday. But I had a midlife crisis when I was 9, so I'm not worried about that." She's also as confused about her apparent agelessness as we are: "I forget [how old I'm turning]. 41, I think." (According to Wikipedia, she's turning 42.) "You know, I really don't care, because I don't expect to live for very much longer." What does that mean? "Oh boy, this is turning into a heavy conversation," she continued. "But it isn't about age — it's about experience. The only thing worth aiming for is love. As you long as you have that, it's okay, and then you have some issues you just need to work out during this lifetime, not that I'm religious in any shape or form. But I don't fear death. Love is the only thing that matters. Everything else is smoke and mirrors." So, is fashion smoke and mirrors, too? "That's the best smoke and the best mirror. You've gotta go out, so you should go out in style."
Read more posts by Mike Vilensky and Shira Levine
Filed Under: anna wintour, daphne guinness, designers, erin fetherston, party lines, valentino
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: his forbulessness, tom ford
Drew Barrymore wore a purple strapless dress with a needlelike pin at the Everybody's Fine screening last night in Hollywood.
Would you wear this color?
Read more posts by Sharon Clott
Filed Under: drew barrymore, look of the day
Things you may not know about Narciso Rodriguez: He saw Madonna three times in concert this year; he is secretly obsessed with Chelsea Handler; also, he loved the controversy surrounding Michelle Obama's red-and-black election-night dress. Perhaps craving a new controversy, he told the Huffington Post what he thought every woman must have in her closet:
You need a pair of clogs and a jumpsuit. You also need an amazing coat. It's so great to see a woman dressed in jeans and a lace-up boot with an extraordinary jacket. It's a moment where you do want to mix high and low and it's not so much about a head-to-toe designer look. You also can't go wrong with a black dress. It's the most practical thing you can own, and right now practicality, responsibility to your budget, and being aware of the economy are so important.
All of that is fine — but clogs and a jumpsuit? Sure, Chanel showed clogs for spring, while many designers showed jumpsuits (and Jean Paul Gaultier showed a slew of overalls, which are kind of like jumpsuits). But still, it's like chefwear mixed with janitorwear. Maybe that sort of thing will be the new homeless chic.
Narciso Rodriguez: Designer Of Michelle Obama's Election Night Dress Looks Back [HuffPo]
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: designers, narciso rodriguez, questionable trends
The golden retriever you are about to see is a genius. We are not saying this sarcastically. This dog is technically smarter than actual human relatives of mine. So what did the fine people of Latin America decide to do with this one in a million treasure?
They put him in a skirt and taught him how to dance the mambo.
Not gonna lie, that was probably their best move. This is easily one of the greatest things the internet has ever given to us (after Faith, of course.) HE IS SO GRACEFUL.
(Endless thanks to Buzzfeed)
 MTV.com | Taylor Swift on 'SNL': Let the Kanye yukks begin Entertainment Weekly We know Taylor can take a good prank at her own expense; but will this weekend's episode devolve into one long 'Ye rant? Despite bloggy rumors, neither the singer's publicist nor reps for the show itself would confirm whether West ... Taylor Swift Spoofs Kanye West Incident In 'SNL' Promo Going Swift-ly into the night VIDEO: Taylor Swift Ribs Kanye West in SNL Promo |
It's probably not a good idea to have the person who regulary gives you massages be the same person who also performs liposuction on you when the need arises. Thank you. [NYT]
PLASTIC SURGERY
• Natalie Portman on whether she would get plastic surgery: “I would hope not.” She also admits, “If I have a pimple I want to get rid of it.” [StyleWatch/People]
HAIR
• Do women need Brazilian waxes in order to impress men? A Times UK columnist says yes, while a Salon.com columnist says no. What do you think? [Times UK, Salon via Allure]
FRAGRANCE
• Mariah Carey demonstrated how to dab perfume on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Her advice: Sprinkle some scent down your legs, in between your breasts, and on your neck ... while singing. [Now Smell This]
SKIN
• Lancôme's new $145 Absolue Precious Cells skin cream promises to smooth skin within weeks by using stem cell technology, which means the product uses consumers' skin to renew facial skin. However, a study says that the products don't carry actual cells, but are based on ingredients like apple extract, which triggers skin renewal. [Independent UK]
• Melvita, a French organic skin-care line, is now available online in the United States. There is also a flagship store in the works to open in San Francisco in January. [Beauty Counter/Style.com]
MAKEUP
• Glamour says that white eye shadow isn't tacky anymore. Tread carefully. [Girls in the Beauty Department/Glamour]
Read more posts by Sharon Clott
Filed Under: beauty, beauty marks, brazilian wax, ellen degeneres, fragrance, hair, makeup, mariah carey, melvita, natalie portman, skin, stem cell renewal
Whether or not hedge fund billionaire Julian Robertson was a resident of New York City way back in 2000 may seem like a trivial question. Unless, that is, you work for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and you're arguing he did spend the majority of his time in NYC that year and you'd like to see him cough up the $27 million in city taxes he owes.
The dispute has now been settled in court. After Robertson accounted for his every waking minute in 2000, he managed to convince a judge that he spent slightly more than 180 days at his house on Long Island or traveling for business, so he won't have to write a check to the city for $26,792,341. (The city tax rate at the time was 3.78 percent; Robertson made $700 million in 2000.) That's too bad since New York City could have really used the cash. Then again, Robertson did rename the plaza at Lincoln Center in his wife's honor not too long ago and that cost him $25 million, so maybe we can call it a draw?
In Tax Case, 4 Days Save Robertson $27 Million [WSJ]
AP - The flat-lining, alien-abduction thriller "The Fourth Kind" offers a close encounter that buries an interesting idea under a barrage of gimmicky, carnivallike hokum. The movie's unwieldy mix of degraded pseudo-documentary footage and "Unsolved Mystery"-style re-enactments is as unconvincing as it its distancing, making the small charms of "Paranormal Activity" all the more apparent by comparison.
Leah Adicott and Myles Hendrik share a similar style — classic, vintage, rock-and-roll, but with a twist. Leah mixes her look with labels (Grey Ant), mass market (H&M), and vintage (her grandmother's purse), while Myles opts for the ubiquitous leather jacket and a not-so-common chapeau. The couple (he says lover, she says boyfriend — tomato, tomahto) met while Myles was D.J.-ing. Find out more about their style (and them) by watching the video.
Read more posts by Jonah Green
Filed Under: video, video look book
Celebrities are everywhere. Lucky for you, so are we!
Yesterday, I called upon the New York Post to step up their game with their not-ridiculous and not judgmental-enough World Series headlines, and I’m pretty sure that must’ve cut someone pretty deep, cause they responded this morning in top form.
Here’s today’s cover (keep in mind, the New York Mayoral Election also happened yesterday, and this is their top story):
Breaking News: Pedro Martinez to get whupped tonight! I know this is a tabloid, but isn’t just saying a thing that could happen tonight the exact opposite of the definition of news?
What I’m trying to say is – GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK, Post!
The rumors were true: Twilight stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are on the cover of Harper's Bazaar's December issue. If anyone's "sexy now," we suppose it's them (though we are not Twi-Hards). This reminds us of the time the magazine put Angelina Jolie on the newsstand cover even though she didn't pose for photos for the magazine or speak to them for the story inside. Maybe drawing from Us Weekly's best cover stars is the best way to sell fashion magazines these days. Unlike Angelina, Rob and Kristen did submit to interviews for the story and posed for an entire editorial in the magazine, in which they do everything they can with one another — writhe, grope, stare lustily — to fuel rumors about their "love nest," or whatever it is the tabloids are fixated on this week.
"Hey, don't wrinkle my pants."Photo: Mark Seliger
He's down on one knee! EVERYBODY FREAK OUT.Photo: Mark Seliger
Harper's Bazaar wanted to make Kristen look "vampish and sexy" for the shoot — a "gothic romance" that's still fashionable. She wears McQueen, Valentino, Yves St. Laurent, and Prada, among other labels. Meanwhile R-Patz loads up on Dior Homme, which looks damn good on him.
Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart's Wild Ride [Harper's Bazaar]
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: harpers bazaar, kristen stewart, movies, robert pattinson, twi-hards, twilight
DJ AM's Lafayette Street apartment hasn't gone up for sale yet, but his Beverly Hills house can now be yours for $3.795 million. Real Estalker has the photos and details. [Real Estalker]
A mob of Lloyd Doblers — A Mobler? — invaded the streets of New York City on Tuesday to help promote The 20th Anniversary Edition DVD of Say Anything, playing “In Your Eyes” to anyone willing to listen (Ed. Note: That’s everyone.) So anyone in the mood to weep tears of teen loss High Definition style, this might be the only shred of good news you’ll hear for, like, hours.
The good news is, by the looks of it, there are about 25 super desperate to date guys roaming around New York City. Off to get my best t-shirt clip dry-cleaned.
Socialite Tinsley Mortimer may have a reality TV show in the works—it's called Empire State, by the way—but many of her society friends have been trying to steer clear of it. Last week, word emerged that the show's producers had found a couple of randoms to serve as regulars, including Hannah Bronfman (the daughter of Edgar Bronfman Jr.) and Paul Johnson-Calderon, a guy best known for stealing a purse earlier this year. But there's further evidence that producers are having a tough time finding people willing to associate themselves with the show.
Last week, a desperate mass email was sent out to Tinz's friends and acquaintances begging them to appear a last-minute lunch—and it came from none other than Tinsley's co-star and sister, Dabney Mercer, and fellow socialite Alexandra Osipow:
Sorry for the Late Notice...
Please Join Us to Support TINSLEY at a SURPRISE Afternoon Gathering with Friends to be Filmed for Her Upcoming Docu-Soap
When: Saturday, October 31, 2008
Where: Butter
415 Lafayette Street
212-253-2828
Time: 1pm Sharp
Thank you,
Dabney and Alexandra
Isn't it nice to know that Tinsley has people to not only help her stage catfights, but to also throw together impromptu gatherings so it appears as if she's got tons of close friends?
All Tinsley Mortimer coverage [Cityfile]
AP - The Idiot Savant asks Marie, "Am I no longer capable of saving us from magic words?" In turn, she asks him, "What makes chosen words — magic?"
Isaac Mizrahi wouldn't mind a few tips from Martha Stewart when he goes live on TV to promote his new collection for QVC on December 4. "As I build my brand, I think about Martha Stewart and her very upward trajectory. She has always been a great inspiration to me. What makes us trust Martha to talk about chickens and trees and window treatments?" he told WWD. “I’m just saying, maybe at the end of my trajectory, we’ll look back and go, ‘Oh, remember, before him, there was no X, Y, Z.’” [WWD]
Read more posts by Sharon Clott
Filed Under: collaboration station, isaac mizrahi, quotables, qvc
I didn’t wake up this morning expecting that I was gonna write a post involving the poems of one Suzanne Somers, but hey, when I’m wrong, I’m wrong.
Here’s a clip of Kristen Wiig reading Somers’ seminal poetry volume as part of the Celebrity Autobiography series, which kicks off this week’s New York Comedy Festival. Please, please tell me someone’s going to read this at some point…
Jon Corzine was unseated as New Jersey's governor yesterday. Meanwhile, Bank of America is desperately seeking a new CEO and just yesterday announced it would be fine with having its next chief based in the New York area, instead of at BofA HQ in Charlotte. Is it possible that Jon Corzine could decide to return to his Wall Street roots and take over the troubled bank? Stranger things have happened, clearly. [Dealbreaker]
Yesterday was chock-full of strange phenomena: Aliens invaded Earth on V! Kate Gosselin finally shut up on TLC! A baby Frenched-kissed itself on The Doctors (wait… what??)! The truth was out there, and Doug Benson found it on Best Day Ever:
Catch another new episode of Best Day Ever with Doug Benson tonight at 11pm on VH1.
People have been turning to drug dealing and donating blood to remain afloat amid the recession, so it's probably natural that some parents are trying to make ends meet by forcing their kids into acting and modeling in the hopes of turning them into mini-ATM machines.
The Wall Street Journal reports that some kids' modeling agencies have seen the number of applicants rise by 50 percent over the past year. The only problem is that the chance of a Culkin-like happy ending is more unlikely than ever, since advertisers and film/TV companies have been busy cutting back on their budgets.
As for whether subjecting kids to the cruel realities of show business will end up damaging them psychologically for decades to come, yes, there's that issue, too. Although if parents didn't do that to them now, who's going to be willing to go on cable reality TV shows 20 years from now?
How Tough Times Yield Model Children [WSJ]
Victoria's Secret just named five new Angels. They are Emanuela de Paula, Lindsay Ellingson, Candice Swanepoel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Chanel Iman. Current Angels include Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Miranda Kerr, Marisa Miller, and Doutzen Kroes. Adriana and Heidi are having babies, so the company needed some backup perfect people who had the requisite experience wearing underwear and the ability to walk a straight line with floor-to-ceiling feathered contraptions chained to their backs. Also, Heidi is only hosting the show instead of walking the runway this year, because one month is not enough time for her to get perfect again, post-delivery. The Victoria's Secret fashion show tapes in New York on November 19. A "real person" chosen from a countrywide model search should join the new and old Angels in their conquest of the world's most glittery runway.
Victoria's Secret Announces Newest Angels, Including Chanel Iman [Fashionologie]
Heidi Klum Won't Strut, Will Host Victoria's Secret [E!]
Related: Video: Victoria’s Secret Casting Call
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: adriana lima, alessandra ambrosio, candice swanepoel, chanel iman, doutzen kroes, heidi klum, lindsay ellingson, miranda kerr, model tracker, models, rosie huntington whitley
The Real Housewives of Atlanta might be the best cast of the entire franchise. Sure, they’re not the richest, or the snobbiest, or the most shrill or annoying, but my GOD are they the most hilarious.
But they are not without their faults. Specifically, Sheree Whitfield, who is one of the most simultaneously cocky and awkward people we have ever witnessed. You can almost see the word abacus clacking in her brain as she tries to form a sentence between her overlapping eyes. But that slowness of mindgears has not effected her own self-esteem, which is in the nosebleed section of ego stadium. (It’s high.) This combination of stupidity and cockiness make her our least favorite Atlanta Housewife for a mile. And today we learn: We’re not alone.
That’s because Sheree’s ex-husband, Retired NFL player Bob Whitfiled, really hates her. Sorry… REALLY2 hates her. Why? Well, for God’s sake, she talks ish about him all day long and still has the nerve to use his last name. While on a call-in to the Nigel and Marco Show, Bob compares his ex to Frankenstein in the most hilarious plastic surgery analogy we’ve ever heard:
Quit trying to trash me and then use my damn last name. I’m feeling like I’m the mad scientist and I created Frankenstein. She didn’t have that nose; I put that nose on her! She didn’t have them breasts, I put them breasts on her. I put some electricity on that ass and now she’s sparked up and tearing up the got damn laboratory. What the f*ck? Sit down somewhere and calm it down. You forget who made you girl!
You can listen to it here. And if you’re a young actor looking for your next dramatic monologue, no need to thank us/him.
As a side note, Bob Whitfield is also kind of hilarious looking. ~The More You Know~
AP - Lionel Barrymore. Alastair Sim. Laurence Olivier. Albert Finney. George C. Scott. Bill Murray. Michael Caine. Mr. Magoo. Scrooge McDuck.
Claridge's Hotel in London is expected to announce in the next few days that John Galliano is decorating the Christmas tree for their lobby. Galliano is a solid choice — he ought to have fairly intimate knowledge of fake snow by now. And if he pulls from his recent Dior collections for inspiration, maybe the hotel will enjoy a Christmas tree covered in bras. [Style File/Style.com]
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: designers, john galliano, when jews get the shaft
The 82nd annual Academy Awards will be hosted by a duo of two-time solo host Steve Martin and first-timer Alex Baldwin:
“I don’t play the banjo but I’m thrilled to be hosting the Oscars—it’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” added Baldwin, a veteran movie star and past nominee…
“Steve will bring the experience of having hosted the show in the past and Alec will be a completely fresh personality for this event,” first-time Oscar producer Adam Shankman said.
Alec Baldwin is a brilliant choice; he’s hosted SNL roughly 45,000 times, he has monologue experience, he’ll be dynamite in any video bits they shoot, and is precisely the kind of universally undislikable personality that the Oscars ceremony needs. When I first heard the announcement, I assumed the broadcast was going to be on NBC and the Baldwin addition was an attempt to cross-promote 30 Rock, but the Oscars are actually on ABC again next year, so congrats to them for putting aside network differences and just picking someone really funny.
Steve Martin, meanwhile, is one of the funniest humans ever to live, but I feel like too often when I see him now, I expect “Amazing, subversive” Steve Martin and instead get “I guess that’s technically still him” Steve Martin. Sadly unironic banjo performances aside, Martin has hosted the Oscars twice before and I’m sure he’ll rise to the occassion again, and I foresee him and Baldwin having good chemistry together, even though the Oscars haven’t had multiple hosts since 1986 when Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, Paul Hogan hosted together — wait a minute, did that actually happen? Holy sh*t. No wonder it hasn’t happened since. I’ll go out on a limb and predict this year’s will be sliiiiiightly better than that one.
So what do you think, BWE faithful? Martin/Baldwin Oscars tag-team? Unstoppably brilliant team, or does the ‘duo’ host not work for you? Excite yourselves away in the comments.
Picture it: You’re the Dad of a famous child star. You’ve dealt with your own drug addiction problems, were embroiled in a messy divorce, and have since found God. So what do you do when your famous daughter, damaged after years of both familial and substance abuse, calls you in clear, mumbled, jumbled distress?
Well, if you’re Michael Lohan, he with the sheer mesh tees, you release those tapes to Radar Online.
Indeed, Lindsay Lohan called her Dad, and in her usual, Tweet-familiar way, doesn’t make top much sense as she sobs about people not caring about her in between deep, gutteral sobs. It’s a shame for Lindsay, really. Here you have a girl, born beautiful and with more than a little bit of talent, literally ruined because of the garbage that raised her. It’s the kind of crying you really only hear coming out of the Botox room on a woman’s 45th birthday, i.e. heartwrenching.
So why would Father Michael send this to the press? You could argue that it’s to let the world know that Lindsay really does have emotional problems. But who is to blame for that, Dad? And would good will this call bring to the table? Anyone who follows Lilo on Twitter knows she’s unstable to the brink of insanity. There has to be a better way to fight the battle.
Anyway, if you’re the kind of person who takes pleasure in listening to rich people cry, you can address your thank you notes to Michael Lohan, c/o Probably in Prison, 1234 Skeez Blvd., West Coast, America, 911.
Click on the image to listen to the call.
 WA today | Will Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin be winning Oscars hosts? Los Angeles Times Tuesday's announcement of Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin as hosts of the Oscars was generally well-received by the other Oscar bloggers. While Tina Fey remains on the wish list of several commentators, most are pleased with her "30 Rock" co-star Baldwin ... Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin to Host Oscars Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin to host Oscars: Brilliant! Two wild and crazy guys go to the Oscars |
Gemma Ward hailing a cab in the East Village ... Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos walking in Central Park ... Rihanna leaving the Gramercy Park Hotel and later arriving at JFK ... Sienna Miller talking on her phone on the street in SoHo ... Matt Damon returning to the set of The Adjustment Bureau in Fort Tryon Park ... Leelee Sobieski walking in Tribeca ... Katie Holmes and Adam Brody filming scenes for The Romantics ... Rachel Hunter standing on the set of Gravity in Central Park ... and Kate Hudson and Alex Rodriguez leaving Le Bilboquet on East 63rd Street after having lunch.
 New Yorker | Bleating hearts and minds: The Men Who Stare at Goats reviewed Los Angeles Times For sheer stand-out-from-the-crowd oddness, "The Men Who Stare at Goats" is hands down the best title to adorn a Hollywood film this year (and then some). When I first saw it on a release list, I groaned: Another ethnographic documentary from Bhutan or ... The Men Who Stare at Goats Peformances full of joy in 'Goats' 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' lacks focus |
They grow up so fast, don’t they? Loving the costumes worn by her two best friends, “Bellboy 1″ and “Bellboy 2″. Super authenties.
That sure was close, wasn't it? Going into the election, pollsters and pundits were predicting a double-digit win for Michael Bloomberg. But for all the money he spent ($157.27 per vote, compared to Thompson's $13.12), flashy endorsements he lined up, political rivals he forced into submission—and even with an opponent like Thompson who never quite got his act together—Bloomberg only managed to win by five percentage points. Yesterday's results will have implications for years to come, of course. We've rounded up a few of the early winners and losers below.
↓ Michael Bloomberg
Yea, sure, he got what he wanted and he'll get to be mayor for the next four years. But with his critics emboldened and plenty of messy political battles ahead, his third term probably won't be as much fun as his first two. And while that might not matter if Bloomberg were a career politician, it's not as if he really needed any of this stress, did he? As the mayor headed home to his massive townhouse last night in his big, black SUV, he had to be wondering to himself if he wouldn't have been better off if he'd exited the political stage gracefully. He'd get to spend the next four years jetting back and forth to Bermuda and popping by the office of his foundation every once in a while to sign a couple of checks. Now he just looks like a jerk and he still has a crapload of work on his plate.
↑ Bill Thompson
Thompson was expected to lose. But he got a lot closer than anyone expected and he finished things off with a surprisingly strong concession speech. (Too bad he couldn't perform like that during the campaign, huh?) He goes down with honor for facing unbeatable odds and still coming within five percentage points. And he'll land on his feet. There's already talk that Bloomberg may give him a job in his new administration in the spirit of reconciliation (much the same way Hillary Clinton was tapped by President Obama to be his Secretary of State). And if that doesn't pan out, there's always a comfy gig in academia waiting for him whenever he wants it. Godspeed, Bill.
↓ Anthony Weiner
We're going to venture to guess that Weiner is the single saddest man in New York City today. If he'd shown a little more backbone earlier this year and had decided to throw his hat into the ring, he'd be suffering a hangover right now from having guzzled too much champagne last night. Sure, he can try again next time. But who knows what will happen between now and then. And four years—or 1,460 days—is a long time to wait.
↓ The New York Democratic Establishment
The Democratic party machine didn't do nearly as much as it could have to back Thompson. Now it realizes that if it had motivated a bit, Thompson could have very well won yesterday. Christine Quinn had been hoping that staying on the sidelines would position her nicely to run the next time around. Now she had less of a chance than ever.
↔ Howard Wolfson, Bradley Tusk
The masterminds of Bloomberg's campaign did what they set out to do: They won the election for the mayor. But despite all their crazy planning and all of Bloomberg's money, they still only walked away with a razor-thin victory. The extraordinary lengths they went to in order to guarantee a Bloomberg victory—and all the money they spent on the campaign in the middle of a economic downturn—only left voters with a bad taste in their mouths.
↑ The average voter
Will your life really change all that much now that Bloomberg's been reelected and Thompson has lost? Probably not. But we all win now that the campaign is over. We will no longer have to see a Bloomberg commercial on TV every five minutes, or have a flyer shoved into our hands every time we leave our apartments, or have a computer call our homes during dinner. And for that we should all be grateful.
-- Jon Rosen
Kudos to the brilliant street artist who discovered how to Autotune a “Wet Paint” sign. Just tear off the “We” and the last “t”, and you’re in business… robot business:
Above, a hacked “T Pain” sign spotted at my local New York City subway station. This also works if you’re in France and want to help promote famous Parisian rapper “And Bread,” better known overseas as “Et Pain.”
The famous yo-yo dieter will document her struggle to drop the pounds with a new A&E reality show.
Three of Ledger's best buddies were noticeably absent from the premiere of his last appearance on screen.
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