AFP - US television superstar Oprah Winfrey, who rose from a childhood of abuse and poverty to become a global star, will announce on Friday that her talk show will end in 2011, her production firm said.
AP - An Illinois insurance executive accused of secretly making nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews is expected to make his first court appearance Friday.
AP - An Illinois insurance executive accused of secretly making nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews is expected to make his first court appearance Friday.
Just in the St. Nick of time -- something affordable for everyone on your list DALLAS, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Make your list, check it twice - get the hottest... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
AP - Oprah Winfrey was set to announce Friday that her powerhouse daytime television show, the foundation of a multibillion-dollar media empire with legions of fans, will end its run in 2011 after 25 seasons on the air.
Oprah Winfrey has racked up memorable moments during her long television reign. Some were moving, some embarrassing _ to her or others _ and a handful became pop-culture landmarks. Here are Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 20 Nov 2009 | 2:04 am
Oprah Winfrey is expected to officially announce that her powerhouse daytime television show will end its 25-season run in 2011. Her production company, Harpo Productions, says Winfrey... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 20 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am
AP - Heidi Klum and her post-baby body led the parade at the annual Victoria's Secret fashion show, which returned to New York with some fresh faces after four years on the road.
Reuters - Alan Bennett has a lot on his mind in his latest play, "The Habit of Art," including creativity, aging, fame, anonymity and sex, and it hangs together because of his gift for language and fine stagecraft, and some splendid performances. Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 20 Nov 2009 | 12:37 am
Reuters - Although it would seem to hold the promise of being an extended dirty joke, Sarah Ruhl's "In the Next Room or the vibrator play" actually is a surprisingly funny and sensitive portrait of the eternal disconnect between men and women. Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 20 Nov 2009 | 12:35 am
Reuters - Staten Island is regarded as New York's bastard stepchild of a borough, and unfortunately, this film is unlikely to enhance its reputation. A Tarantino-influenced crime drama featuring a tripartite story line that is far too precious for its own good, "Staten Island" will do nonexistent business in theaters after it opens Friday (November 20), but should garner video and television exposure thanks to its reasonably well-known cast. Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 20 Nov 2009 | 12:33 am
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The moon may be new, and the director may be different (Chris Weitz takes over the reins from Catherine Hardwicke), but otherwise, the second installment... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 20 Nov 2009 | 12:31 am
Reuters - The moon may be new, and the director may be different (Chris Weitz takes over the reins from Catherine Hardwicke), but otherwise, the second installment of the "Twilight" saga remains, for better or worse, exceptionally faithful to its 2008 beginnings. Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 20 Nov 2009 | 12:31 am
TORONTO - Throngs of fans braved rainy weather for the Canadian red carpet premiere of "Twilight: New Moon," the highly anticipated second instalment in the blockbuster vampire romance... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 20 Nov 2009 | 12:25 am
With the news that Oprah Winfrey is signing off after... Wait, what? She's not pulling the plug on The Oprah Winfrey Show until 2011? Well, shoot, what are we all scrambling around...
LIFETIME AND THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY'S HIT SERIES RETURNS TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF NEW YORK FOR SEASON SEVEN ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, WITH HOST HEIDI KLUM, MENTOR TIM GUNN AND JUDGES... Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am
the film at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Chris Pizzello) CAPTION 1 Caryn Rousseau, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CHICAGO - "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 19 Nov 2009 | 11:54 pm
A top South Korean model who was a fixture at fashion week in Paris and London was found dead at her apartment in Paris, an official said Friday. Daul Kim, 20, was found dead Thursday by Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsEnter | 19 Nov 2009 | 11:30 pm
Cradle Crook:Uma Thurman will soon be the envy of teenage girls (and moms!) everywhere now that she's been cast to star alongside Rob Pattinson in an adaptation of Guy de Maupassant's short story Bel Ami. The story is about a young journalist (Pattinson) who rises to the top of Parisian society by getting busy with lots of powerful ladies. Thurman plays Duroy's friend's wife. She later becomes Duroy's wife. The role had reportedly gone to Nicole Kidman, but she dropped out when she realized that swarms of angry tweens (and moms!) would soon annihilate her. [THR]
Game Time: Brad Pitt's production company has signed a deal with videogame company Capcom to develop a film based on the game Dark Void, with Pitt potentially starring. The game is about a pilot who crashes in the Bermuda Triangle and finds himself in an alternate world where aliens and technology are threatening to take over civilization. It's actually pretty similar to Angelina's family reunions. [Variety]
Steve Party:Steven Spielberg and Stephen King are teaming up to bring Under the Dome, King's latest book, to TV. Optioned by DreamWorks TV, it will likely be set up as an event series for cable. King's story revolves around a small Maine resort town that falls into chaos after an invisible force field descends upon it. If these two Stev(ph)ens could just find a way to involve Colbert, then the holy trinity would be complete. [Variety]
Country Folk:Sam Shepard will star in Tough Trade, the inaugural pilot for Epix, the pay-cable network launched by Viacom, Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate on October 30. The show will focus on the Tucker family, a three-generation Nashville music dynasty that has drank, gambled and divorced its way to bankruptcy. Shepard will play the patriarch. But first he has to learn how to play the jug. [THR]
Backyard Bird:Alicia Witt, the red-headed mom who is both Tim Riggins's former lover and landlord on Friday Night Lights, has signed on to star in the Hallmark Channel movie Backyard Wedding. The film centers on a woman who is set to have the wedding of her dreams in her parent's backyard. Things get complicated when her first love, and parent's neighbor, keeps showing up. Here's hoping the neighbor is Riggins. [THR]
AP - Heidi Klum and her post-baby body led the parade at the annual Victoria's Secret fashion show, which returned to New York with some fresh faces after four years on the road.
It's not a death, but it will be a loss.
The accolades are pouring in already for Oprah Winfrey, who's planning to talk on the air tomorrow about her decision to end her...
Time to roll out the pink carpet!
Even though CBS won't air the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show until Dec. 1, I can tell you all about the event going down tonight. There are...
Each time an actor or musician or director talks about retiring, it's pretty easy to roll your eyes. Mostly because they hardly ever mean it. But it's also hard to imagine ever voluntarily giving up a life of wealth and fame. The latest star to hint at retirement is Robert Downey Jr., who told Entertainment Weekly that he and his wife Susan "want to begin to be in our lives." Which means watching movies, reading books, painting, of course.
"I can only be a guy on a call sheet probably, I don’t know, maybe a couple more times. It’s something I’m so grateful to have in my palm, and yet I already see its inevitable decay.”
No! Lucky for all his fans, Downey knows he might not be able to leave acting even if he wants to. “If Sherlock Holmes performs well, I could be busy for the next 5 or 7 or 10 years,” he said. We'd like to go ahead and suggest the Jay-Z model wherein one announces his retirement, soaks in all the requisite fanfare, and then behaves like it never happened. It's really the best of both worlds.
No one really knows the answer to that question. Except for maybe Reid. And he's playing coy. "We'll find out when the votes are taken," the Senate Majority Leader said yesterday. The votes will be taken on Saturday night, when the Senate takes up a key procedural vote that, if passed, will allow it to move on to dealing with the legislation. All 40 Senate Republicans are expected to vote against the $848 billion bill, so Reid needs to convince wavering Democratic Senators Blanche Lincoln, Mary Landrieu and Ben Nelson to go along with his "motion to proceed," which would give him a filibuster-proof 60 votes.
Some Democrats have suggested that Reid go for a fast-track procedure called "budget reconciliation," which would require only 51 votes, but he emphatically shot that down yesterday. ("I'm not using reconciliation," he said emphatically.) So, until Saturday at least, the power lies with Lincoln, Landrieu and Nelson, who are already getting special treatment. If one of them, or any of the 55 Democrats and two Independents who have said they will vote "yes" decides not to, the 2,074-page bill will be dead before it even gets going. The result: a lot of wasted paper.
AP - Wearing a floor-length pastel striped evening gown, Sandra Bullock walked the red carpet in New Orleans Thursday for a special premiere of her latest film, "The Blind Side."
Should you go see New Moon? Does it matter what we say? You're going to see New Moon. But if you have any lingering doubts about the second film in The Twilight Saga, we're here to help....
It's finally over for Conservative Party candidate and Tea Partier Doug Hoffman, who trails Rep. Bill Owens (D) by 3,105 votes in the recount from the NY-23 election. There are only 3,072 ballots left to count, which means Owens has won. Again. [The HIll]
Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream, out November 24, has set the record for most pre-orders in the history of Amazon.com. On her way to making Simon Cowell even richer, Boyle passed artists like Take That and Norah Jones. So clearly this list is based less on what's awesome and more on what moms like. And moms really like Susan Boyle. [Billboard]
Republicans aren't the only ones who'd like to see Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner thrown out onto the White House lawn. Oregon Democratic representative Peter DeFazio spoke with the Wall Street Journal today and said Geithner needs to get lost, the same thing Republican Kevin Brady said to the secretary's face earlier today.
WSJ: Why do you think Geithner should resign?
Rep. DeFazio: “I just do not feel that his orientation is other than Wall Street, and has not been other than Wall Street, and will not be other than Wall Street. And quite frankly all the gambling on Wall Street is doing nothing to put people back to work in America and rebuild our economy.”
DeFazio said he's conveyed his message to the White House, specifically to Rahm Emanuel, whose gym locker is right next to DeFazio's.
Jenna Fischer is hot. We know it. Jim knows it. Roy knew it. And now, apparently Us Weekly knows it cause the mag honored her last night in Hollywood as one of the chosen few for their Hot List....
James Franco's stint on General Hospital officially starts tomorrow, but he made his debut today. According to the Speakeasy, Franco appeared on GH this afternoon playing a swarthy bum spray painting on a wall. Sounds about right. And since ABC knows most people who are actually excited about Franco's guest role will be at work tomorrow, they've released a couple clips to convince you to set that DVR.
In the first clip Franco hides behind a dumpster as he watches guys in leather jackets shoot at each other. Then he emerges and gives the shooters a creepy wave. In the second clip he locks lips with a girl (Naomi from Lost!) while "Mad World" plays in the background. And then, in that very soap-opera-y voice, mysteriously says "They're expecting me." DVR set!
James Franco's 'General Hospital' sneak peek [Popwatch]
From 2008 to 2009, complaints of sexual abuse on New York's subway system went up by four percent, according to NYPD Transit Chief James Hall. And a full 374 of the 587 complaints took place in Manhattan. Most happened during morning and evening rush hours on trains traveling between 14th Street and Grand Central.
This increase has taken place despite a heightened awareness by women who are increasingly snapping cell phone pictures of subway creeps. Councilman Peter Vallone has an idea for those snap shots. "I'd like to see a wall of shame," Vallone said. "Posting pictures of people convicted ... would be a useful deterrent." Or, if you're less interested in publicly shaming a groper and more interested in exacting revenge, you could take your cellphone and repeatedly bludgeon him in his pervy head with it. That's also a deterrent.
Front Page: Duo join forces to bring series to screen -- It's a potent combination: Steven + Stephen.
You know how James Cameron and Avatar and 3D are going to change the future of cinema? Wrong! Jackass 3D, which Paramount plans to make this year, will change the future of cinema. It'll be like the vomit is actually hitting you in the face! [Cinematical]
The jury in John "Junior" Gotti's racketeering trial told the court it was deadlocked today, eight days after it began deliberations. Federal Judge Kevin Castel told them to shut up and get back to work. It is "way too early in the game to do anything beyond that," Castel said after the jury gave him a note that said "unable to reach a unanimous verdict." If the jury fails to reach a unanimous decision the trial could end in a mistrial, which would be Gotti's fourth — leaving him one mistrial short of being eligible for a free smoothie. [NYDN]
When we caught up with Tim Burton this week during a preview of his new retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art (which opens this Sunday), we wondered what it was like to be the subject of a museum exhibit. "It’s amazing," he told us. "It’s something that’s never happened before, so it’s even more surreal than a movie premiere, because it’s more personal. It’s more exposing in a way." See more in our Party Lines slideshow.
Egads! Hot on the heels of the rumors that were circulating two weeks ago, WABC-TV is reporting that Oprah will announce on tomorrow's show that she's gonna draw the curtains on The Oprah Winfrey Show once and for all. Don't worry, you'll still have plenty of time to stock up on canned food and batteries, as she won't be signing off until September 9, 2011. Although no one is quite certain of her post-Oprah Winfrey Show plans, it's widely assumed that she'll continue doing her talk show, possibly in some other iteration, on the OWN cable network that bears her name. Because otherwise, really, what's the point of having your own network? It certainly can't be to show repeats of Oprah's Big Give.
• It's official: Oprah says she plans to call it quits in September 2011. [ABC] • Layoffs: The BusinessWeek cuts continue (and include a handful of the mag's more notable names); meanwhile the AP body count now stands at 90. • Sarah Palin sold 300,000 copies of her book the first day, alas. [TDB] • Condé Nast and Adobe are teaming up to bring Wired to electronic reading devices. Digital versions of Vogue, VF, and the NYer will follow. [WSJ] • Vogue's design director is exiting the magazine after a four-year run. [WWD] • In other Anna news, her de facto stepdaughter, Alexis Bryan Morgan, is leaving the Condé Nast family to take Nina Garcia's old job at Elle. [NYM] • Cable mogul John Malone isn't happy about the idea of Comcast and NBC teaming up. Meanwhile NBC chief Jeff Zucker is staying mum about the deal. • Another rumored Playboy bidder is denying interest in an acquisition. [NYT] • Does Bonnie Fuller's new website stand a chance? [NYP]
James Van Der Beek didn't want to wait for his life to be over to be single again.
The Dawson's Creek star has filed for divorce from wife Heather McComb, five months after the...
Models are often known for their legs or eyes, or the way they walk, but rarely does the industry find a model with real personality. We were lucky enough to have met Daul Kim, and we can safely say she had personality and then some. Born in Seoul, South Korea, her career kick-started with spreads in Korean Vogue. It helped that she had impeccable street style that was praised by bloggers and editors. She became a favorite of the edgier glossies: i-D and Dazed & Confused. Karl Lagerfeld was a fan, too, having championed Kim for all of Chanel's 2007 shows and booked her in the Chanel Coco Cocoon video. In Daul's relatively short career, she was embraced by photographers and stylists alike: Sebastian Kim, Erika Kurihara, Ben Hassett, and Steven Meisel. What we'll miss most about Daul isn't her way with the camera, but the girl herself. Click ahead to see 25 of our favorite Daul moments.
Don’t you see what this means?? THE SEASON PREMIERES ON GROUNDHOG DAY! The day that inspired a movie about the same thing happening over and over again, to kick off the final season of a show that’s been one huge time cycle of its own! This seals the deal — the series is ending with the Oceanic plane crash. It couldn’t be any clearer.
Oh you’d LOVE us to believe it’s just some random day the network randomly gave you, Lindelof, or should I say LIE-ndelhof, is what I’d call you if you denied that — but WE KNOW THE TRUTH. Everything on Lost is happening over again!!!! Bring back Charlie, bring back Eko, bring back Brian Doyle Murray as the mayor of Punxsatawney, cause we figured out your little PREMIERE DATE CLUE. You gotta wake up PRETTY EARLY in the DAMN MORNING to fool this guy (before 10 am).
Or…maybe the show will involve an actual groundhog:
Or maybe the show just picked a day. I can’t tell anything anymore, the show’s been off for so frickin’ long, I’m suffering from withdrawal. Heroin withdrawal. Unrelated to Lost. But not helping.
Elle finally got around to replacing Nina Garcia, who left her post as fashion director in April of last year and has since moved on to Marie Claire. Their new fashion director is Alexis Bryan Morgan, who will assume her new post in the new year. She is currently the executive fashion editor at Vanity Fair, with a sizable (seven pages!) photo gallery on Style.com. Looks like she only has a few more weeks to add to it! It raises an interesting question: What happens when editors jump ship to a competing publishing company? Do they delete her gallery or let it fester and let the world wonder what happened to her increasing embarrassment? Must be a pretty good gig at Elle to give all that up.
Read our last post. The picture will make more sense.
It also happened to student journalists at George Washington University last month, where Kennedy also gave a speech, according to The Wall Street Journal. Kennedy says the request was made by a new assistant who didn't understand his policy. That said, when the GW student newspaper sent along their drafts to him, he made a few changes. [WSJ]
The Victoria's Secret fashion show tapes today. It doesn't air on CBS until December 1, but we went backstage to check out what it takes to look like a Victoria's Secret Angel. Among tables full of hair extensions and tons of glitter, we spotted Doutzen Kroes, Erin Heatherton, Sessilee Lopez, Heidi Klum, Behati Prinsloo, Dorothea Barth Jorgensen, and new angels Candice Swanepoel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Chanel Iman getting ready. Makeup artist Tom Pecheux explains the look: "it's beauty, freshness, so light color, no hard lines." What does that mean? "A lot of shimmer, pink lipstick, black mascara, of course a bit of glow, a bit of tan, a bit of sexiness. I want a girl to say 'Wow, those bitches look fabulous.'" See more behind-the-scenes footage in the video. And look out for the puppy!
Yesterday we took a look at the style evolution of Twilight star Kristen Stewart. Today in our special three-part series leading up to tomorrow's release of New Moon, we take a look back at her sexy maybe-boyfriend Robert Pattinson, better known as R-Pattz (or Hot-Pattz, if we had our way). He's known for his questionable hygiene habits, messy hair, and black Nike sneakers. In the past few months he's done some growing up! Well, kind of. See for yourself in the slideshow.
Man, there’s been a lot of bad news lately — the economy, other vague stuff with which to pad this vague list before you just watch the video embed anyway — but every so often, the internet treats us to a nice, upbeat lighter segment, such as this boy’s discovery of his very own real-life E.T.
Where was possibly retirement-contemplating director Chris Weitz around lunchtime today, mere hours before the release of The Twilight Saga: New Moon? Sitting in the back of a Town Car snarled in Manhattan traffic, answering Vulture’s questions. We caught up with him en route from an interview on Elvis Mitchell’s radio show to a taping of the director’s cut for the DVD. He talked to us about breaking the book's rules, his estrogen levels, and being "the world’s biggest hypocrite."
How did you convince Stephenie Meyer to pick you as the director?
Her first reservation was that I’m a man. She had liked About a Boy [which Weitz helped adapt], so that helped a lot. It also helped to talk about the book and Bella’s feelings, and how I would see it realized. We became thick as thieves. I could always e-mail her and ask if it was okay to do something. She’s the pope and I’m the cardinal.
Had you always had a thing for vampires?
A week before [I was offered the Twilight job] — I’m friends with David Benioff, and he had said you should see this movie, Let the Right One In. And I said, “I don’t understand why everybody’s doing so many movies and TV shows about vampires. I just don’t get it. You have Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you’re through." Then I got offered Twilight and became the world’s biggest hypocrite. But I don’t think it’s about vampires at all. Part of the appeal for adults is it’s a guilty pleasure going back to your teenage emotions, like your first love and first heartbreak and obsession.
But as a 39-year-old married man, how do you relate to the emotional state of a teenage girl?
I’m a teenage girl at heart, really. I could show you the doctor’s report. I have a very high estrogen count. My wife is here to confirm it. But I never thought the story was gender specific. It’s just the degree to which everyone wants to be seen letting [their emotions] all hang out watching it; guys don’t want to do that necessarily, and girls are willing to go there. But it’s in all of us.
How do you go from directing a movie like American Pie, where the object is getting laid, to Twilight, which has been called a Mormon allegory, with the writer of the series, Stephanie Meyer, being a Mormon?
It’s funny now to work with a writer who is a practicing Mormon. I don’t mind that at all. I’ve never had a problem with religious people. I rather love that it’s men being objectified and the attitude towards sex is "think about it, be careful, this is a really big deal." Considering the number of 17-year-old girls objectified in film, I think this is just one back for the ladies. It’s almost revolutionary for a character to be a virgin and for the male to want to wait.
Was there anything Meyers had to correct you on?
You can’t cut a vampire with a knife. I should’ve known that. But there were rules she would stretch, for instance, Edward’s face cracks at one moment. I said, "How do you show a vampire being hurt or damaged in a fight?" It’s fun to take Rob [Pattinson]’s porcelain beauty and crack it.
The Golden Compass was also supposed to be a religious allegory geared toward a teen audience and it was a disappointment at the box office. What happened there? The Golden Compass became a bad experience because the studio didn’t have faith in the strength of the ideas of the novel, which is ironic because it’s one of the greatest fantasy novels ever written, if not the greatest, and they took the religion out of it and tried to turn it into a popcorn movie. We had an inferior product, which was trying to avoid anything with any religious content in it, which emasculated the film. I think there were some very unwise decisions that led to its financial ruin here, and in turn, to the destruction of New Line as we knew it. This movie, I suppose, is redemption for me, because I was able to accurately depict the book on film.
Is this really your last movie?
That’s become Internet Chinese whispers. I said something like, "Oh I’m so tired of doing all these movies" but that became "I’m not doing any more movies now." There’s always a time I say never again, but it’s more like a bad hangover.
If this were you, you might write a murder mystery about your job, too.
Out next Tuesday, Al Roker's new book The Morning Show Murders is, as you would expect, squeaky-clean when it comes to giving us any dirt on his Today show cohorts. But there is at least one telling bit that may allude to a former competitor: Ben Lyons, the film critic whose ill-fated stint on the show At the Movies (where he replaced cancer-afflicted Roger Ebert) earned him widespread scorn. The young Lyons competed in a time slot against his own father, Jeffrey Lyons, host of NBC's Reel Talk. The latter show ended up being driven to cancellation (though At the Movies jettisoned Ben shortly after). Ebert was a Pulitzer Prize–winning critic who wrote for decades at the Chicago Sun-Times. Previously, Lyons was a blogger and on-camera personality for E!
We don't know what Roker's motives are, but that sounds awfully familiar to this bit of the book, a galley of which we just read:
“Chuck Slater was Wake Up, America!’s new film and television critic. Barely in his twenties, Chuck had gained fame as an Internet blogger and host of the popular Web site Flickpick.com. He was an arrogant, impatient young movie nut, either overly effusive in his reviews or devastatingly brutal. Quite the opposite of our former entertainment critic, George Miles, a Pulitzer Prize-winning twenty-year veteran of The Washington Post, whose critiques were thoughtful and informed. Unfortunately, all that experience meant nothing to management except that George was getting on in years. Which in turn meant that he had to be out of touch with our audience. Unlike Mr. Slater.”
Of course, the book included a disclaimer that it's a work of complete fiction. "Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors' imagination or are used fictitiously," an intro reads. "Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental."
Also enlightening are the descriptions Roker offers up of his protagonist, chef Billy Blessing, Al's seeming alter ego. First of all, he works on a morning show, so, duh. And Billy’s a chef, while Al’s a foodie (he’s written two cookbooks, Al Roker's Big Bad Book of Barbecue and Al Roker's Hassle-Free Holiday Cookbook). "Viewers tell me that I remind them of a stocky Eddie Murphy, minus the mustache, the honking laugh, and the leather pants," Roker writes, in the voice of Blessing. "I prefer to think of myself as a more accessible, less intense version of Denzel Washington." Aw, Al! We liked this part, too: "[Viewers] also assume, because our producer, Arnie Epps, has instructed me to keep a smile on my face whenever I’m on camera, that I'm always cheery. I'm not."
Of course not, Al. You wrote a book called Morning Show Murders!
Why is this country so fat and getting fatter by the day? Apparently one reason is that some Americans have yet to figure out that consuming a six-pound bucket of movie popcorn bathed in butter is not healthy. Weren't aware yourself? Make a note of it! [NYDN]
DailyCandy's new sample-sale website, Swirl, is live today. Its first sale features up to 80 percent off Alisha Levine, while Lauren Merkin, Tod's, and Leigh & Luca are all on deck for the rest of November. The site is only in beta-testing mode now (when we tried it, we got an error message on the homepage and loading pages took a long time), and a hard launch is planned for February 1. Sure, it may feel like the millionth sample-sale website to launch this year, but it's hard to fight a good bargain. [Swirl/DailyCandy]
Are you one of our many readers here in the New York area? If not, feel free to move on. If so, you're in luck! If you're looking to do something here in the city over the next few days that involves something other than standing in line for New Moon, we've got five great cultural suggestions for you. [NYM]
Naomi Campbell and her boyfriend, Vladislav Doronin, attended the premiere of Valentino: the Last Emperor last night in Milan, where the supermodel wore a white coat with gray gorilla arms, a big trend for fall 2009.
In what may be the clearest evidence yet that New York's real estate market is royally screwed, Ebay is opening a pop-up store on 57th Street tomorrow just a few yards from Louis Vuitton and Bergdorf Goodman. Fortunately, it won't be filled with junk that an old lady in the Midwest has been keeping in her garage for the past two decades. It'll be selling brand-new stuff (like Michael Kors handbags, M.A.C. cosmetics, and Anthropologie dresses), and the company says it will match whatever is spent in the store and donate it to charity. But if the idea of a Ebay store still horrifies you, do remember it's temporary. It will disappear from sight on November 29. [WWD]
Ed Westwick covers the latest issue of Arena Homme+, but he was hardly the best part of the magazine. In one of the best drag spreads we've seen all year, Arena hired a few beefy models to showcase some of the ruffliest garments of the season. Muse devoted its entire fall issue to Natasha Poly, who looks spectacular throughout. GQ gets in on the Twilight action with a shirtless Taylor Lautner. Baptiste Giabiconi gets a nod again this month for his work in a Speedo. And the hottest new beauty trend? Rhinestone mouth. See those images and more in the slideshow.
Goldman Sachs decided against holding a holiday party this year. Condé Nast revealed yesterday that it plans to proceed with its annual fête, albeit at a slightly less expensive restaurant. Now JPMorgan has weighed in. The party is on this year, which is certainly nice to hear. Not as nice: It will take place in the company cafeteria. [Dealbreaker]
Front Page: Talk show host to exit syndication after 25 years -- It's official: After 25 years, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will end its run on Sept. 9, 2011.
From left: Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, and Temperley London.
The latest season of bridal shows just wrapped, and we have many new runway slideshows for you to look at. Even if you're not wedding planning, nothing's more fun than looking at wedding dresses.
Well, that was quick. Immediately on the heels of a report this morning that Rudy Giuliani was ruling out a run for governor comes news that he's been telling people he's definitely going to run for Senate to replace Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand. Then, according to Elizabeth Benjamin at the Daily News, he plans on turning around and running for president in 2012. That's basically three consecutive years of running for office, but then again, Barack Obama only had one more year between his election to the Senate and his election to the White House than Giuliani would have in this scenario. Somewhere out there, Mitt Romney is heaving a heavy sigh and saying, "This guy again?"
It seems the New York Times only had half the story when it reported earlier that Rudy Giuliani had abandoned plans to run for governor. "A source familiar with Giuliani's thinking" now tells the Daily News that he plans to run for Senate instead and challenge Kirsten Gillibrand in 2010 to fill out the remaining two years of Hillary Clinton's term. "If elected, the source said, he could use that as a stepping stone to run for President in 2012—rather than run for re-election to the Senate." Be afraid. Be very afraid. [NYDN]
From left to right: Looks from Irina, Carol Hannah, and Althea.
After all the Sturm und Drang surrounding the current season of Project Runway, tonight’s finale almost feels anticlimactic. How could three short catwalk presentations possibly outdo a year of dramatic kvetching about new locations, network changes, lawsuits, and one very earnest plea that we picket Harvey Weinstein's house? Unless Althea “accidentally” sets Irina on fire backstage, we’re betting it can’t. But because we’re gambling women, we’re also placing odds on which of the three women still standing will emerge from the ashes of the Los Angeles season victorious, and who will go home empty-handed and in need of a warm Tim Gunn embrace. (Warning: If you aren't planning to peek at the finale collections yet, look away! This contains spoilers.)
IRINA: 2 to 1
Though Irina is clearly the most unpleasant of this season’s finalists — and tragically isn’t even any fun to hate — we suspect her superior technical skills will allow her to carry the day. Her collection lacks color, but while that cavalcade of primarily blacks and grays might be a bit depressing, at least it looks like it could all belong to the same bummed-out woman. We’ve seen her knits, leggings, and leather aesthetic done before — and done better, even by her — but given how lackluster the competition is (sorry, girls), we suspect that may not matter. What may matter tomorrow morning is that Irina lifted the contents of an entire New York Magazine article for use as a graphic on one of her T-shirts (pictured above) — which themselves were a redo, because she was scolded for making the first version using other people's art — but considering that this episode has been in the can for approximately 100 years, there’s no way the fact that she’s apparently an inveterate plagiarist could have come into play during the judges’ deliberation. More’s the pity. View Irina's complete collection.
CAROL HANNAH: 7 to 1
Once we get past the fact that we can't say her name without thinking of Daryl Hannah, which then takes us on a long journey down memory lane toward Splash and Legal Eagles (which next gets us pondering how hot Robert Redford once was, which … wait, where are we? Oh, right), we actually like Carol Hannah. As a person, that is. She's bubbly and cute and spunky — all of the things people usually say about their cherished little sisters. And she does have a deft touch with clothes; we just don't see enough of it here. Some of her collection aims for — and nearly hits — the glamour of a Monique Lhuillier or Badgley Mischka show, and the other half looks like one of those designers decided to do a discount collaboration with Chico's. For instance, the eggplant shirt with the rope detail seemed intriguing on the hanger, but when it came down the runway, it had morphed into a tragic tunic adorned with a freaky laughing face composed entirely of matchy-matchy trim; the gold dress with brown-ribbon belt (pictured) is what we'd expect to see wrapped around a box containing the chafing dish we bought off of someone's wedding registry at Macy's. And though we understand why Carol Hannah attempted pants after never doing it during the other challenges, they're not quite up to snuff. Still, her experiments with volume and the fact that she essentially appears to be vomiting her way through the finale — from a virus, not from disgust, as far as we know — should at least keep her from being the first designer banished from the runway. View Carol Hannah's complete collection.
ALTHEA: 10 to 1
In a faint echo of the whole "Jeffrey Sebelia Is a Big Cheater — OR IS HE?" debacle, the last piece of interpersonal drama in the competition seems to be whether Althea is copying Irina (herself a borrower of other people's intellectual property, which is a trippy loop). We aren't convinced Althea’s doing it deliberately, but that big sweater she made the week after Irina's Aspen-inspired beige cowl-neck won a challenge certainly seemed like an unconscious homage — as does the rest of her collection, which feels like it used said sweater as a jumping-off point. Problematically, Althea is neither as skilled at the nitty-gritty nor as generally talented as Irina, and it shows: Where Irina's line consistently has the same consumer in mind, Althea's is all over the map. There are a few pieces that look designed to appeal to Kristen Stewart, one or two we'd maybe see on Whitney Port, a couple for that same Colorado snow bunny who doesn't actually own skis, a heinous slinky white suit with a torn T-shirt underneath (pictured above; think Jessica Szohr with a dash of Olsen), and a cocktail dress that — at least in photos — appears woefully constructed (Look 10 in the slideshow, if you're wondering). Note to Althea: Giant black headbands do not cohesion make. The show also teased a brouhaha over whether she asked for the same cosmetic styling as Irina did; based on the photos, it does seem like, as with her clothes, Althea did a sloppier version of the same theme. We'd be stunned if the judges don't ding her for it. View Althea's complete collection.
We can't help wondering whether, on another season, any of these three would've made it this far in the first place, and we can’t imagine that the answer is yes. Laura Bennett would eat these collections for lunch, for example. In fact, that would've been a finale commensurate with the show's off-season drama. Oh well, maybe next time.
Jon Fine and his wife, Mediabistro founder Laurel Touby, happily left their gigs for a six-month sabbatical of travel and adventure starting in September. They've been cheerily blogging about the first leg of their trip on their blog, Culture Tripping, but the sabbatical plan this week had a hiccup: Fine was told by the new owners of Business Week — where he writes a respected media column — that there will not be a place for him when he returns. "I have absolutely no regrets," he told FishbowlNY from a table at Peter Luger (they're on a break from their trip at the moment). "We had a chance to do it, to go around the world and talk to media people on the ground. And that's going to serve us well no matter what." You know what else is going to serve them well? That $23 million Touby got paid two years ago for her share of Mediabistro.com.
Rupert Murdoch called Gov. David Paterson earlier today to apologize for his bizarre comments yesterday in which he suggested the governor was clueless about the political goings-on in New York because he was blind. And Paterson accepted. "Apparently, Paterson was willing to chalk Murdoch's bizarre comments up to a 'random misstatement.'" [NYDN]
Before we move on to the recap of the final episode in Vegas, because there are so few things in life I’m actually not-terrible at, let me take a quick moment to pat my own back til it’s bloody.
Yyyyyyep…If you need me, I’ll be leaning back in my chair the rest of the day simultaneously dusting off my hands and cracking my knuckles. Let’s just say I frickin’ EARN those Tasti D-Lite coupons that VH1 pays me in lieu of a salary.
My thoughts on last night’s Chefpisode:
– The Quickfire: Cook a thing inside a thing inside a thing, in honor of Vegas’ legal prostitution.
– “Welcome back” says Padma to Jen after tasting her weird seafood Russian nesting doll. Nice to see Jen back on the wagon (the cooking one) after a couple super-shaky weeks; her chances to win are probably shot, but she’ll at least go out on a high note. Unless she gets nervous next week and slips on a banana peel and flings a pot of soup up in the air and it lands on the Queen of England’s head and she’s like “Well I never!” Otherwise she’s fine.
– I get the impression some PA at Bravo was told to go through Michael’s 500 minutes of testimonial footage and pull out two lines that almost came close to being sliiiiiightly inflammatory towards Kevin. He doesn’t appear to dislike Kevin, but Bravo’s grasping reaaally hard to portray him as the Stefan “talented but too arrogant” villain who’s gonna lose the Final, when in reality he is a robot. Not sure how many more times we have to go over this fact.
– Kevin spent the entire episode being super-defensive about his simple style of cooking, even declaring that his decision to keep things really simple was, in itself, a very ballsy move. Kevin — don’t get intimidated by Michael’s two pseudo-insults about your simplicity. He’s just saying the words that the microchip the Bravo producers installed into his robo-brain forces him to say to create conflict down the home stretch. Your cooking is fine.
…Or WAS IT fine? Elimination Challenge and Final Four after the jump:
– Whew! Bravo left in the Whole Foods shopping montage this week after cutting it a week ago. It’s always so exciting to see the chefs ask for ingredients and then pay for them. I mostly watch tv in general for the exchange of goods and services.
– The Elimination Challenge: Take this thing that the best chefs in the word take 9 months to prepare for and do it in a few hours. No Vegas themes, no “make something sparkly you saw at a casino,” no “you’re cooking for the military so tell us why this challenge is extra special to you,” it was just, “here’s a really really frickin’ hard challenge that won’t let you hide, Mother[BLEEP]ers.” (There’ve been so many bleeps this season, it’s only a matter of time before Padma actually just swears at them in the Challenge descriptions.)
– It was clear from Eli’s “The bees are on the what now?” reaction that he was gone from the moment the Challenge was described.
– Jen shrewdly used her extra 30 minutes from the Quickfire to actually stop and talk to Tom! She didn’t run by him nine times saying “Busy busy busy busy!!!!” and singing “Gettin’ Jiggy With It” replacing the word “Jiggy” with “Busy.”
– Kevin overcame not one but TWO classic Top Chef mega-traps to win the Elimination Challenge:
1) “I don’t know how to do this technique at all, but golly, I’m gonna try it!”
2) “I know they want us to do this for the challenge, but I’m not going to!”
Amazing that he not only didn’t get eliminated after those moves, he won frickin’ $30,000 and a shot to represent the U.S. in a prestigious international cooking competition that I’m too lazy to look up how to spell.
– I have no basis for this analysis, but I got the impression that Kevin won the money and thanked Padma really excitedly, then a Bravo producer was like “Cut! Kevin, you have to mention the M Resort when you thank the judges,” and Kevin agreed, then when they re-shot it Kevin exaggeratedly went “I love the M Resort!!! It’s my favorite!” and Tom noticeably cracked up in the background. Screw it, I’m just gonna declare that that’s definitely what happened.
– Eli was clearly overmatched, especially in this fivesome, but he’s still frickin’ 25, he’ll land on his feet. His tears were a little unexpected though– who does he think he is, Kevin after winning?
Next week on Top Chef: “Look what you’re playing for…” CUT TO: A train. The chefs compete to see which one wins a train. Or are they cooking food for the train? It’s got to be one or the other. Special guest: This fella.
And remember: What happens in Napa Valley…… never mind. I can’t believe they made it the whole season without saying it.
Episode thoughts? Favorite / least favorite parts? Finale predictions? Leave ‘em all in the comments.
HAIR
• January Jones wore a "brun" (part-braid, part-bun) last night to an event in Los Angeles. We can't see that word catching on. [Beauty Counter/Style.com]
• Streaky hair is not a good look, according to celebrity hairstylist Rita Hazan. As if you didn't know. [StyleList]
NAILS
• Chanel's jade nail polish sold out in stores, and now people are reportedly paying up to $100 for a bottle on eBay. [Racked]
• Right now, there is no proof that anti-aging products for your nails actually work. [NYT]
MAKEUP
• Former Miss America Shanna Moakler created a line of organic pressed-mineral makeup named Smoak with her makeup artist Daniel McFadden. [StyleWatch/People]
SKIN
• Men are spending more money on skin products. Also, Kiehl's reports men are increasingly interested in products that can help diminish the look of puffy eyes and dark under-eye circles. [NYT]
There are an estimated one million dogs living in New York City, and the breeds of dogs represented are as diverse as the people who own them. But do certain canines reveal traits about their owner without that person even having to utter a word? We took it upon ourselves to ask Dan Rubenstein—dog behaviorist and co-owner of Spot (formerly The Paw Stop), a dog daycare, grooming, and training facility in Tribeca—to explain what you can glean about a dog owner just by looking at what kind of pup he's walking. Generally speaking, of course. "Owners tend to pick dogs and dog breeds that exhibit personality characteristics similar to their own," Rubenstein says, "although it's not as if they do it consciously." After the jump, Rubenstein sizes up a few popular New York City breeds, descriptions you can compare to one of the boldfaced people who happens to own one.
French Bulldog (Martha Stewart) What the dog says about the person: "This breed is incredibly popular in New York City right now, so those who own them are all about the coolness factor. The owners—like Frenchies, as they're called—are expressive and full of personality. These people are often overachievers because they like a dog that is a bit of a challenge."
Chihuahua (Tinsley Mortimer) What the dog says about the person: "Chihuahua lovers are sometimes artsy, but more importantly, their exterior is not always what they seem. I equate the breed to a Great Dane trapped in a little dog's body. Chihuahua owners, likewise, may seem meek, but they're actually quite resilient, and they never back down. A person who owns one is bound to have a tough streak."
English Bulldog (Beth Ostrosky) What the dog says about the person: "People who have English Bulldogs are laid back and easygoing. After all, this dog is the type to want to hang out on the couch and just chill. These owners appreciate relaxing over super-active lifestyles, and they place a lot of value on enjoying life."
Wheaten Terrier (Eliot Spitzer) What the dog says about the person: "Wheatens have a ton of energy, and their owners always need to be busy. They have type-A personalities and a 'never say never' attitude. In general, wheaten owners are very driven and easily excited. But be warned, they also have a little bit of a mean streak."
Yorkie (Cindy Adams) What the dog says about the person: "Yorkie owners tend to be social types who treat their dogs like accessories or expensive purses—and oftentimes, Yorkies cost more than designer handbags. Typically, this is someone who is into appearance and image. They also place a lot of importance on cleanliness—these dogs are pristine, non-shedding animals—and they want a dog who can easily fit into their lives with minimal inconvenience."
Jack Russell (Heidi Klum) What the dog says about the person: "Jack Russell fans are similar to Wheaten owners, except they take the intensity factor to a whole new, amped up level. They have more drive than just about anyone you'll meet. They also tend to be wildly successful and intelligent."
Cavalier King Charles (Liv Tyler) What the dog says about the person: "This breed is incredibly affectionate, as are their owners. They can even be a little bit emotional. A perfect afternoon is snuggling together in bed. Overall, Cavalier King Charles owners are very happy and balanced."
Border Collie (Isaac Mizrahi) What the dog says about the person: "This is someone who likes to work but can also relax and leave work at the office. They like the simple, rural life, and they're usually earthy, outdoorsy types. In general, Border Collie lovers have an affection for all animals, not just dogs."
Labrador (Anne Hathaway) What the dog says about the person: "Lab owners are very grounded, stable people. They're very family-oriented, and if they don't already have kids, they want them. This is a dog who needs a lot of exercise, so their owners are usually athletic and outdoorsy."
John Brek, a Newark Airport security worker, was released from jail today. Brek was originally charged last month with making "terroristic threats" against President Obama, who was flying into Newark.
Initially, prosecutors said the witnesses recounted how Brek spoke about cutting holes in an opaque fence covering to make it easier to shoot the president. But further interviews revealed that Brek actually pointed out holes in the covering and noted how someone could see through them to shoot the president. He also allegedly made racist comments about Obama.
Brek's lawyer says prosecutors overreacted to what amounted to "small talk at a lunch truck." Duly noted. Still, we might recommend that Brek work a little on his chitchat skills. That's a pretty shady topic of discussion.
Ballad. What is… a ballad, Mr. Schuester asks. Well, no need to wait for my arm to cannonball its way out of my shoulder joint, Mr. Schu. I do believe a ballad is best defined as the following:
(I just watched all 3:36 seconds of this and suggest you do the same, thank you.)
Ballads are stories set to music, he explains, and our Glee-some group is going to have to team up to sing a ballad together at upcoming sectionals. But due to your classic spider-in-ear foul up, one of the unidentifiable Glee members is out, meaning Mr. Schue has to team up with someone. Here is how our teams pair up:
Puck + Mercedes = Fireworks.
Artie + Quinn = Adore.
Finn + Kurt = Worthy of a Showercam.
Rando Cheerleader 1 + Rando Cheerleader 2 = Too perfect.
And of course
Rachel + Mr. Schue = Bad news.
She forces her teacher to sing “Endless Love” with her, while she dons her Benny Hill hat and chases him around the piano. Rachel’s face turns into tractor beam of patheticness — the only way we can describe it is it’s never looked Rachelier — while Will does his killer Robert De Niro impression:
It’s also worth noting that the piano player simply steals the scene with the joy beam emanating from his heart. And while Rachel and Will do a fantastic job singing/lip-syncing the most romantic jam of all time, they could still learn a thing or two from this guy:
Quinn is being fitted for her “Chastity Ball” dress, by her mother who originated on the set of Designing Women, Episode 41 “The Incredibly Elite Bona Fide Blue-Blood Beaumont Driving Club.” But Quinn’s dress is a bit tight around the mid-section, where another tiny person happens to be growing inside of her. Quinn blames it on a burrito, and we gotta say we have definitely been there. I’ve eaten burritos so big I’m forced to wear a nursing bra to work the next day. The mother blames her lack of cheering and penchant for showtunes for the weight gain, saying you don’t burn that many calories singing. And dare I take a moment to disagree —
Quinn’s father likes Glenn Beck. As such, he is a d*ck-q-tip. The actor, played by John Heard’smore evil twin, asks about that boy she’s been dating. Which one, Pops? Your lil’ ladies been getting it from multiple sources. It goes without saying, Quinn is definitely f*cked, but not in the fun way.
Rachel gives Mr. Schue a tie with a treble clef and gold stars on it, from the Luther Vandross Gospel Collection. It’s smart looking, and a tasteful choice. This brings back a flood of memories for Will, who we learn has been the object of many a school girls’ attention before… but no one more terrifying than Susie Pepper. Susie, a plain looking girl with glasses and an outfit furnished by Chico’s David Koresh Collection, sprinkles Schue with love hints all the livelong day, even giving him a necktie covered in peppers… “so you can wear them and think of me… Susie Pepper.” She also calls him at home, and officially becomes the first Glee character more terrifying than Will’s own wife. Dare we say, she’s more terrifying than BRIAN PEPPERS (click at your own risk.)
Teach tells Suze it will never work out, and while we briefly sympathize with her choice of “More Than Words” as a comfort song, we lose all sympathy when she pulls the world’s hottest pepper out of a jar and eats it. Here is a dramatic reenactment of said events by Homer Simpson in some unidentifiable language:
Kurt is singing with love of his life Finn. Yet another Glee love triangle! This show will not be constrained by age or gender, America, so deal with it. After briefly trying to convince Finn that girls are the real enemy, he tells him to sing “I’ll Stand By You” to his little girl in the audience to let her know his true feelings. Kurt sits at the piano — “Thank God I never missed a piano lesson” acting as reason enough that he knows the chords — and so we begin this shows theme: Singing songs to get a real message across.
Oh Finn. Singing. Such a sweet, cute guy. Who should just not be forced to do this. The camera cuts between him pinching a loaf on stage to him, sweetly, singing to the sonogram on his fly Apple laptop. His Mom catches him, and it’s probably the only thing worse than his Mom walking in on him masturbating… singing to his unborn baby. Finn’s Mom is awesome, wears a denim patchwork vest, and cradles her hot jock son in her arms as they both weep. She’s probably on 8 years older than him in real life, but for this moment, we will let reality slide and get a little sad.
We’re treated to a sweet Kurt/Finn montage: Finn saving him by the lockers, then accepting some skin tips/moisturizer from Kurt, which is the gay equivalent of going steady. Kurt isn’t going to let some pesky heterosexuality get in the way of his goals.
Mr. Schue sings a mash-up of “Young Girl” and “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” to Rachel (as Emma also comes along for the ride.) The performance is actually one of the best Matthew Morrison has had all season, including some positively “Billy Elliot” inspired dance moves:
Of course, this performance has the opposite effect. Both girls are more in love with Will now than ever. Didn’t Rachel understand the message? “It means I’m very young and it’s hard for you to stand close to me.” Hilares Perhaps he should have tried rapping to them. Surely, they both would have fleed from his life for good.
And oh snap: Susie Pepper is back.
Kurt join Finn in going through old things in their attic. They bond over lost parents. Finn puts on his army father’s blazer and tie and looks like the cover of a J. Crew catalog. Finn calls himself out for being a coward, not being able to tell Quinn’s parents about the baby. Kurt assures him that even his father fought with a weapon, and Finn should go prepared. With a gun? No, a weapon better than that… Finn’s voice. It becomes clear at this moment that Finn is probably going to die.
Rachel stalks will to his house, where Mrs. Schuester is taking full advantage of her crush and making her clean the toilet. It’s the first time all season we’ve actually respected Will’s wife. Will takes Rachel home, where she sits in the backseat of his car and begins singing one of our fave jamz of all time, “Crush.” She’s is song-blocked 1 lyric in.
Peppers threatens Rachel. Why is Peppers allowed back in school? Ryan Murphy, enlighten me.
Mercedes heads over to rehearse with Puck, and she doesn’t even have the respect to hang up the phone in front of the hottest guy in school. She eventually tells him that the Glee Club is going to sing a song to Quinn and Finn to show their undying support for their love. Puck turns into a charity thermometer and explodes, revealing that it is he, in fact, who inseminated our fruitful cheerleader. And guess what? Mercedes tells him it doesn’t matter! And to back off! Plot tweeeuuuhst!
It’s dinner time in the Wasp Nest. The mean guy from Big is probably wasted. Finn goes to the b-room, but only briefly, lest they think he decided to sing another song in there and crap out a 3-foot-long poo rope. Song time!
Secret is out. Sh*t, meet fan. Commercial break, Luke Wilson for AT&T? Sure. Back to the show.
Here is where the show takes an emotional turn. Quinn’s parents, who are the McDowells to the McCains, perch themselves on their country floral sofa while her father tells a sweet story of Quinn as a little girl, sleeping in his arms at a football stadium. He then takes all those warm, fuzzy feelings, and throws them in a death camp wheelbarrow, throwing both Finn AND Quinn out of the house for good. On Intervention, this is what we refer to as “rock bottom.” She calls her Mom out for being weak and eternally WASPy. This line really got us, spoken by her father:
“Who are you? I don’t recognize you at all.”
Ya cut me deep, Mr. Fabray. Ya cut me real deep. She has 30 minutes to pack, and then she’s flying. Luckily, Mrs. Hudson, Finn’s mom, welcomes Quinn into the house with open arms. Thus ending after-school special moment #1 of 594 (or 2).
Susie Pepper tells Rachel to forget about Schue, because he is unattainable, and a nice patch for their self-esteem issues. It reads almost too real for me personally, so I’ll just glide over this moment by saying, good on you, Susie Pepper, for molding your insanity into something for good. They always say psychiatrists are the actual crazies themselves, and here we see why.
Rachel and Teach work their issues out. It’s a little cliche, so we’d rather speed ahead to our fave part of the show…
THE LEAN ON ME ENDINGGGG! Say what you will about the overuse of this song, we can’t even hear you, because we are crying and swaying and praising the Lord and clutching our chests and pointing at the sky and it’s hard to hear over all of that:
And because he was sorely missed in this episode, a Bonus Puck Screengrab, judging all of you:
It was not clear what prompted the decision, but the prospect of potentially facing Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, who is quietly planning his own run for governor on the Democratic ticket, may not have appealed to Mr. Giuliani, who suffered a bruising defeat in the 2008 Republican presidential primary. While many political analysts believe Mr. Giuliani would have comfortably beaten Gov. David A. Paterson, he would likely have faced an uphill battle against Mr. Cuomo, one of the most popular politicians in the state.
So what will he do instead? Continue to collect a zillion dollars per speech, so he can keep up with Judy Giuliani's Louis Vuitton addiction, that's what. [NYT]
It must be agonizing for the millions of frothing Twilight fans to spend today counting down each painfully long minute before New Moon is released. At least those people aren’t Kristen Stewart, who bravely endured a hellish four minute interview on the Today Show yesterday. That reeeally must’ve been rough, Kristen. You look like you could use some cheering up. I recommend this episode of Best Day Ever with Gabe Liedman:
Here’s the trailer for Remember Me, the new Robert Pattinson movie that replaces dueling vampires and werewolves with dueling Pierce Brosnan and Chris Cooper, the only thing that tweens enjoy even more.
It’s gonna take a few movies before I see Robbie Patz (my nickname for him that I use to save time) in a trailer without expecting to see CGI’d werewolves jumping out to confront him, so I’ll just pretend that Chris Cooper is a werewolf. Which he was in American Beauty, actually — most people didn’t pick up on that. Watch the deleted scenes.
Leading Taiwanese movie director Chu Yen-ping plans a black comedy titled "Assassinating Chen Shui-bian" about a plot to kill the island's former president Chen Shui-bian, seen here in 2008, a report said... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 19 Nov 2009 | 10:11 am
Wondering what to send long lost family members in the mail this holiday season? How about the above photo of 50 Cent and 3 random babies? Those of you out there inspired to do so can even add a little inscription on the back: “Curtis and the kids sending you a big hug this holiday season.” Or something along those lines. Your family will think you got with a famous rapper! And for the first time in their lives, they’ll be proud of you.
And no, we literally have no explanation for the above photo. Care to offer us one?
It’s no secret around here that more than any other animal on Earth — yes, including the otter — my dream is to one day adopt and raise a goat as my own. Frankly, if science can even keep up, I’d be fine with delivering all four hooves out of my own body. And videos like the following,brought to us by Buzzfeed, do nothing to quash our motherly instincts. It’s a baby goat whose only wish is to ride the bus to school. Will he outsmart that bitch of a bus driver? Watch and learn. And also marvel that they got the SUPERINTENDENT to comment.
How cute… we hope they do enroll him so he can wear his “GOAT TEAM” sweatshirt.
Heidi And Spencer are completely irredeemable human beings whose calculated attempts to exist purely through negative attention aren’t amusing on even the most perverse or ironic levels — this isn’t news, and it’s not why I’m posting the following video of them on the Tonight Show last night.
I’m posting this video because I’ve never seen Conan O’Brien conduct an interview with such deep, transparent contempt for a guest. Can you blame him? It’s actually kind of refreshing:
Part 2, including the crowd booing them off, after the jump:
Is Rihanna dating this dude from The Wire? If so, I’m still only on Season 2 so NOBODY TELL ME ANYTHING, please.
Will Ferrell topped Forbes’ 2009 list of the Most Overpaid Movie Stars based on box office return per dollar of salary. So basically, Forbes made a list to tell us Land of the Lost didn’t do well. Fair enough.
Jennifer Hudson will star as Winnie Mandela in an upcoming biopic about the wife of Nelson Mandela, which is sure to be the Armageddon to the Deep Impact that is Invictus. Also, Winnie Mandela will have to destroy an asteroid.
A computer glitch caused widespread flight delays and numerous flight cancellations yesterday. Oh yeah, “computer glitch?” That’s what I would have called it to cover up if Die Hard 2 really happened too.
John Kerry’s daughter Alexandra was arrested on a suspicion of DUI yesterday in a blatant attempt for Kerry to corner the Nick Nolte vote..
Popcorn's Dark Secret New York Times Tony Cenicola/The New York Times Movie popcorn contained an alarming amount of fat, salt and calories. Sitting in a dark movie theater with your friends and a tub of buttery popcorn sounds like a perfect way to spend a Saturday night ...
AP - Italian crime families have become a staple of video games over the last few years, starring in such hits as "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City," "The Godfather" and "Mafia." And don't get me started on "Mafia Wars," the browser game that's consuming half of my Facebook friends.
Oscar-nominated German director Werner Herzog will lead the international jury at the 60th Berlin Film Festival from February 11-21. Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 19 Nov 2009 | 7:56 am
A pedestrian stands next to a poster of the movie "2012" at a cinema in Jakarta. Hollywood's latest doomsday offering "2012" has caused a storm in Indonesia, with conservative clerics condemning it as... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 19 Nov 2009 | 7:56 am
Interactive graphic on the release of the Hollywood blockbuster "2012", which has prompted NASA to launch a rare campaign to dispel rumours of the end of the world -- and examples of some earlier apocalyptic... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 19 Nov 2009 | 7:56 am
A terracotta warrior is pictured in this file photo. A group of China's famed terracotta warriors are going on display at the National Geographic Society in Washington, on the last stop of a four-city... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 19 Nov 2009 | 5:15 am
Video: A handful of the thousands of terra cotta warriors sculpted to protect the tomb of China?s first Emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, touched down in Washington at the National Geographic Society after a tour... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 19 Nov 2009 | 5:15 am
From left: Actors Cleo Pires, Rui Ricardo Dias and Juliana Baroni pose during the premiere of the movie "Lula, the son of Brazil" during the Brasilia Film Festival on November 17. Audiences wept at the... Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 19 Nov 2009 | 3:17 am
With the news that Oprah Winfrey is signing off after... Wait, what? She's not pulling the plug on The Oprah Winfrey Show until 2011? Well, shoot, what are we all scrambling around...
It's not a death, but it will be a loss.
The accolades are pouring in already for Oprah Winfrey, who's planning to talk on the air tomorrow about her decision to end her...
Time to roll out the pink carpet!
Even though CBS won't air the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show until Dec. 1, I can tell you all about the event going down tonight. There are...
Should you go see New Moon? Does it matter what we say? You're going to see New Moon. But if you have any lingering doubts about the second film in The Twilight Saga, we're here to help....
Alexander Skarsgård can't wait to start shooting the next season of True Blood.
"It's been like five or six months since I've seen most of them,"...
Jenna Fischer is hot. We know it. Jim knows it. Roy knew it. And now, apparently Us Weekly knows it cause the mag honored her last night in Hollywood as one of the chosen few for their Hot List....
James Van Der Beek didn't want to wait for his life to be over to be single again.
The Dawson's Creek star has filed for divorce from wife Heather McComb, five months after the...
Before we move on to the recap of the final episode in Vegas, because there are so few things in life I’m actually not-terrible at, let me take a quick moment to pat my own back til it’s bloody.
– “Welcome back” says Padma to Jen after tasting her weird seafood Russian nesting doll. Nice to see Jen back on the wagon (the cooking one) after a couple super-shaky weeks; her chances to win are probably shot, but she’ll at least go out on a high note. Unless she gets nervous next week and slips on a banana peel and flings a pot of soup up in the air and it lands on the Queen of England’s head and she’s like “Well I never!” Otherwise she’s fine.
– Whew! Bravo left in the Whole Foods shopping montage this week after cutting it a week ago. It’s always so exciting to see the chefs ask for ingredients and then pay for them. I mostly watch tv in general for the exchange of goods and services.
– I have no basis for this analysis, but I got the impression that Kevin won the money and thanked Padma really excitedly, then a Bravo producer was like “Cut! Kevin, you have to mention the M Resort when you thank the judges,” and Kevin agreed, then when they re-shot it Kevin exaggeratedly went “I love the M Resort!!! It’s my favorite!” and Tom noticeably cracked up in the background. Screw it, I’m just gonna declare that that’s definitely what happened.
There are an estimated one million dogs living in New York City, and the breeds of dogs represented are as diverse as the people who own them. But do certain canines reveal traits about their owner without that person even having to utter a word? We took it upon ourselves to ask Dan Rubenstein—dog behaviorist and co-owner of 
