"Apparently naked, not fully naked. I was lying partially naked on Alan Arkin, but strategic body parts were covered. It's always scary when you're in front of strangers half naked, but the fact that it was with Alan, honestly, didn't make it any weirder. I think being with a young dude would have been more awkward because I might have been like, 'Well, does he think I look cute right now?'"—Blake Lively on not caring what Alan Arkin thought in The Private Lives of Pippa Lee [Parade]

“I don’t think I could be here without her. I think she has blazed a trail. She is an amazing woman. She will always be the Queen of daytime television and she also said she is leaving me all of her money. I was like, God, thanks Oprah, thank you.”—Ellen DeGeneres on Oprah's announcement [EllenTV]

“Yes, it happens in The Runaways. Yeah. We’re playing Joan Jett and Cherie Currie, and they’re best friends in the film and became really close in real life. And that’s something that went down back in the ‘70s.”—Dakota Fanning on a passionate kiss between she and Kristen Stewart [Access Hollywood via Advocate]

“I'm very embarrassed about my golf habit. It's awful. I wish it had never happened to me. I used to have a well-rounded personality, many interests, and now I don't really care about anything except golf. I went as a joke [12 years ago]. But I quite liked it. I used to be a big reader. Now I read Dave Pelz's Putting Bible.”—Hugh Grant on his golf addiction [Parade]

“She died at the age of 46, not of anything sudden; she was one of the most spectacular victims of the revolution. It would have needed the Taliban to protect her.”—Martin Amis on his sister, about whom his latest novel is based [Guardian UK]

“I don't drink, and karaoke is something you should only do drunk. But I'm obsessed with Adele. I put on ‘Chasing Pavements’and sing it in my apartment. The great thing about Adele is if you put her on top volume, you actually sound like her while you're singing. I've gotten a few complaints from the neighbors.”—Twilight's Nikki Reed on her version of drunkenness [Spin]

Read more posts by Emma Pearse

Filed Under: quote machine, blake lively, dakota fanning, ellen degeneres, hugh grant, martin amis, nikki reed

If You Go Down the Rabbit Hole, It’s Going to Take More Than Gossip Girl to Drag You Back Out

The theme of this week's episode of Gossip Girl was artfully elucidated by the song crooned by grand dame Lady Gaga: "Bad Romance." Serena and Tripp justified their lust, Nate lamented his stupidity, and Vanessa, unsurprisingly, mistook fag-hag status for "like." The ending was bittersweet, as Olivia followed her fate to do more teenage occult films and Dan went back to being "Lonely Boy." In the comments, you praised these decisions — and illustrated an excellent knowledge of Saved by the Bell. Commenter Miserable has compiled the best ones.

Realer Than Serena Having Fake Tranny Nails
• Plus 2 for Nate's ballwashing of Serena not including the words smart or intelligent. "Full of life?" Okay, I'll buy it. —onceuponatime

• Also, plus 50 for the return of the REAL Blair Waldorf. Scheming, black mail, braggadocio, manipulation and beret-wearing. Now we just need the return of Dorota to fully amplify the one and only Queen's powers. —countrymaeve

• Plus 2 for Nate calling Serena out on having a crush on Trip when only two months ago she was all blissed-out in love with Carter. Because who better to call out the kettle than the pot. —shmay

• Nate and married men: Freudian slip? Plus 5. —dignell

• Didn't Hilary once have a career as a pop star? she sounded terrible. Plus 5 because most pop stars can't actually sing. —chuckbassismybabydaddy

• Trip, as would any guy, would use any excuse to cheat on his wife. "Serena, she helped me get elected! By Lying! IN POLITICS! Now come sleep with me." Plus 15 points. —isgoodatmath

• Plus 10 for Lady Gaga knowing Cyrus! Maybe she can get him to make an appearance on the show! —fashionrat

• Also I'd like to add I'm in Europe and we very much know what "I'm Chuck Bass" means here. Plus 20. —im_chuck_bass

• About Tripp: Plus 10 because now that he's been unfaithful with a young blonde, he can now consider himself a real politician. —delawhere16

• Jenny dating a drug dealer and perhaps experimenting with drugs in the future? Plus 5 for art imitating life. —mmkious

• Plus 5 for Serena thinking that finding Tripp as hot as Jude Law was five years ago is justification for sleeping with a married man. Only someone that shagged her best friend's boyfriend on a bar would consider that a reasoned argument —rosemaryhoyt

• Plus 5 for trip's hair swoosh. because all politically-active wasps want to look just like JFK —revelry53

• This morning there was a story on NPR about a shortage of Eggo waffles. I guess little J's queendom really does extend beyond Constance. Plus 5. —ggblast

Faker Than Nate Being the Person People Turn To for Reasoned Advice
• Minus 10 for Dan stealing the basic concept of Snow White and the Seven Dorks from Saved by the Bell. —seanathan

• Didn't anyone find it shady that 16 year old Jenny just dashes off with a 20-something foreigner who's also a total stranger? Hello, Rufus? Are you still a parent? Minus 50. —ewallace

• Why is Nate the only person Serena can confide in about having feelings for a married man? I’m pretty sure Lily has slept with lots of married men. In fact, I’m marginally sure Cece has too. Minus 10. —iludythink

• Did anyone else notice that Dan and Nate run into Vanessa in Tribeca (you can see the Tribeca Tavern in the background) and then later Dan and Olivia are walking around the same corner again? NYU (much less COLUMBIA) is NOT close enough that they'd be wandering around there for their morning coffee. Minus 6. —isinbed

• After last week's elevator confession, I really thought it would be Chuck helping Serena deal with her Daddy issues (since those two have the worst Daddy issues out of everyone). But then I realized that Papa Bass can only save one stupid, blonde sister at a time, and this just happened to be Jenny's week. Minus 5. —nurseluvbass

• I look forward to thinking of Cyrus every time I hear "Poker Face" from now on. But minus 5 for him not popping out from under Lady Gaga's dress for the big finish. —purpleandgreen

• Did Blair lock Dorota in the basement or sell her to a sex slavery ring? Minus 50 for the continuous absence for the 2nd best character on this show. —polishpierogi

• Little J can't wander over for lunch at Jean Georges, there's a dress code! She should be on the Alice in Wonderland statue eating a Sabrett dog. Minus 10 points —silkpants

• Rufus has never heard of gonorrhea of the throat? And he toured with his band? Minus 5 because anyone whose been on tour with a band (even an awful one like Lincoln Hawk) would have had at least a handful of STDs by the end of it. —jnp1013

• Um there is a "Bitches Of Eastwick", it's called The Craft. And if this version doesn't have Fairuza Balk or Skeet Ulrich then it's automatically worse. Minus 20. —kdow3

• Also, can we stop pretending that Serena actually reads ANY newspapers. She would just scan gawker or some other gossip site that only has articles in 250 words or less. Minus 10. —misschristypoo

• Minus 50 for Chuck's "I saw that look in your eye when I first saw you..." to Little J. What was that look? Fear? When you tried to rape her? —thejacqueline

• While we are at it, this new guy is far too preppy for little J to like. He doesn't look anything like a Vampire and the "dead but alive" thing she has going would attract someone more greasy and unwashed. —annie_in_ny

• Hey Nate? You know why Serena thought that line was so blurry? It's because you were feeding her shots all night, and Serena doesn’t get metaphor. Way to cock-block yourself Archibald. Minus 5. —hookedonbass

• Minus 1 because Dan wouldn't have a Smythson or a marbled Mead. He'd have a Moleskin- Hemingway used them, omgggggg! —breebuckley

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Filed Under: the greatest show of our time, gossip girl, the recap of the recap, tv

Project Runway: Obvious Winner Creates No Drama, Results in No Fun

No real surprises here, folks. Irina takes the crown, as we knew she would, which is preceded by a dramaless finale, the highlight of which is a Tim freakout the likes of which we’ve never seen. We learn that Michael Kors is one of those people who wear sunglasses indoors, Nina has emotions, and Heidi calls her dad “Papa.” But first things first: When we start out, Carol Hannah is still feeling horrible and nauseated, which even melts the heart of stone-cold Irina (just a little). At least she gets a big hug from Logan to make her feel better. At the hair and makeup consultation, Carol Hannah wants soft and pretty, while Irina and Althea both want dark smudge. Tim points out that their beauty schemes are basically the same, and Irina again accuses Althea of copying her (while she seems to be completely fine with copying us!). We watched the episode with our mom, and were treated to some over-55-year-old gems. “She is just a witch,” she said of Irina (Mom doesn’t curse). Tim, meanwhile, calls it a “make-it-work moment.” The morning of the runway show, the designers have to get up at 3:30 a.m. to prep their collections. The show is running behind schedule, and in the most amusing moment of the night, Tim has a hissy. “I am about to lose it!” he yells, running around like a lunatic attempting to hurry everyone the eff up. It finally all comes together as the tent fills up. Althea introduces her collection first — “I’m showing you a piece of my soul,” she says, mentioning she was inspired by sci-fi movies from the fifties and sixties (where’s Ra’mon when you need him?). Carol Hannah calls her show “near and dear to my heart,” and then Irina comes out and says her collection is “what it takes to survive in the city as a woman!” Really? All we need is a big sweater with sleeves that are twice as long as our arms? Interesting. “Just ’cause you don’t like Irina, doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of people supporting her,” says our mom, wisely. And it’s true, she gets the win. So let’s see how the designers did, shall we?

Read more posts by Emma Rosenblum

Filed Under: make it work, overnights, project runway, tv

Teary Oprah: Ending Show "Feels Right in My Bones"

Tinsley Mortimer Caught on Film Canoodling With Constantine Maroulis

Guest of a Guest obtained pictures of socialite, soon-to-be reality star, and recent divorcée Tinsley Mortimer in an intimate moment with Rock of Ages star and American Idol runner-up Constantine Maroulis. Guest of a Guest infers that Tinsley has dumped her boyfriend the Price-Chopper Prince. After all, the tipster who sent the pictures did say "This girl is changing! She hiding out from Park Ave, left the Prince sitting alone on his thrown [sic] and went undercover to meet an American Idol. This was a legit date. They are really cute together." So we can understand why one would think it was real! But when we saw these pictures, we had six simultaneous reactions:

1. Everything about this is fake. Clues include the amount of makeup Tinsley is wearing to a cheesy Broadway jukebox musical, the fact that no else one is around at this intimate moment, yet someone took a cell-phone pic from maybe six feet away, and the fact that, well, Constantine Maroulis.

2. The Tinsley of old is basically over. At her peak, she was at best a Becky Sharp. Now she's about at Bridget Marquardt level. Which isn't bad — it's just, well, not good.
3. God bless Guest of a Guest for caring enough to collect these tips, so we don't have to.
4. Constantine, come on. You were on American Idol and you're in a hilarious Broadway show everyone loves! You don't need a B-grade CW reality show that won't make it past half a season.
5. God, we are embarrassed that so far we've had four thoughts about this. It must be Friday. Oh, God, here comes another one — we can't stop it. It's like a brain vomit!
6. Tinz, you're one Michael Lohan cameo away from being Jon Gosselin. For the love of Calvin, get a hold of yourself!

Tinsley Mortimer Ditches The Prince For An American Idol [Guest of a Guest]

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Filed Under: hellivision, constantine maroulis, do not worry there is no need for you to care about or remember these people, reality tv, rock of ages, socialites, tinsley mortimer, tv

What Do Models Talk About Backstage at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show? Food, Mostly.

Last night the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show taped in New York. This is how show stylist Charlotte Stockdale explains the spectacle:

“We came up with the idea of this girl who lands from outer space in Paris. She gets on a train that comes to a halt in Pinkland, where pink girls get on and off. Then they go into this fairy-tale forest and little lady bugs and butterflies land on them and vines grow up on their clothes. Then, there’s Tick-Tock Time; the wings in this section are based on clocks — there’s one modeled after a pocket watch with metallic feathers. And she ends up in this regal realm of princess-ness, where the wings have Swarovski jewels and peacock feathers.”

But everyone knows this event isn't about the clothes. It's about the half-naked models, who spent all day yesterday backstage getting ready. To be half-naked for a few minutes. During this time they chatted up many reporters. The favorite conversation topic? Food. See what Chanel Iman, Anja Rubik, Marisa Miller, and more said in the slideshow.

Earlier: Video: Backstage at the Victoria’s Secret Show

Read more posts by Amy Odell

Filed Under: panty parade, abbey lee, alessandra ambrosio, anja rubik, caroline trentini, caroline winberg, chanel iman, fergie, heidi klum, marisa miller, models, selita ebanks, slideshow, victorias secret

Sorry, Kellan Lutz Won’t Let You Lick Him

When we caught up with Twilight star Kellan Lutz at the premiere for New Moon last night, we wondered if Twilight Moms and other older women are suddenly taking an interest in the 24-year-old. "Yeah, a few pumas, a few cougars," he confessed. "You know, it’s always great when you get fan mail of one clothed picture and then on the back it’s quite the opposite. A Twilight mom once asked if she could lick my face, and I was like, uh, that’s all right." Also, see Robert, Taylor, Kristen, and more at the premiere in our Party Lines slideshow.

Read more posts by Bennett Marcus

Filed Under: party lines, kellan lutz, twilight

Financial Bloggers Felix Salmon and Henry Blodget Have a Fight, Make Up

The Internet: It's a terribly vulnerable place. Here we all are, a bunch of quivering egos, flailing around in cyberspace, unencumbered by our physical bodies. With a mere click of a mouse, even the most reasonable adults can find themselves in flaming, finger-pointing bitchfights or long, boring arguments that then remain there, online, for all the world to see. Financial journalists, it seems, are perhaps more prone to getting into these kind of contretemps, since most of their job consists of telling people they're wrong about stuff. This week, an online scuffle broke out between two titans of the field: flame-haired Business Insider upstart Henry Blodget and the dark prince of the financial blogosphere, Felix Salmon of Reuters. Here's what went down.

Opening Shot: In a post about Michael Whitney, who until yesterday worked as a Bloomberg reporter after being fined by the CFTC for false reporting and attempting to manipulate the energy market, Salmon in passing mentioned that Blodget's Business Insider bio makes scant mention of the fact that he was indicted for insider trading. "Is it OK for a financial services professional who has run into major trouble with the law to simply move over to journalism and cover the same asset class there?" he writes. "Henry Blodget certainly thinks so: the former technology analyst is now publishing earnings estimates on his website despite being barred from ever doing exactly that for the securities industry."

Opponent Reaction: In response, Blodget was moved to write a 1,400-word piece headlined: "Felix Salmon: Henry Blodget should be banned from the industry." In the piece, the tone of which vacillates between defensive and self-deprecating, he frets repeatedly about the "king of financial bloggers" being "annoyed with him," provides a rundown of facts about his "alleged depravity," and suggests that Salmon's concerns were merely fueled by bitterness: "Felix is ... irritated on behalf of journalists everywhere who have been downsized and now have no place to ply their trade," he writes. "If there was any justice in the world, Felix seems to be saying, one of these journalists would be sitting in my chair instead of me." He finishes with heartfelt words about how the Business Insider is a selfless bid on his part to save journalism. "If we defy the odds and make that happen, will it erase my scandalous past? Of course not." God's work.

Round Three: Salmon responds in the form of a letter directly to Blodget on the website of his employer, Reuters, the 150-year-old news organization. "Dear Henry," he begins. "I’m not annoyed by you! I think you’ve created a powerful, innovative, and disruptive franchise in The Business Insider, which employs some very smart people and publishes some great journalism — even if sometimes it’s neither checked nor correct." He went on to point out that in fact the blog entry wasn’t even about Blodget, "as you might have surmised from the picture at the top and the lead paragraph, which were all about Michael Whitney."

I just thought that if you were going to get into the business of publishing earnings estimates for technology companies — exactly the business you were banned from by the SEC — then it might be worth mentioning the ban as you did so.

So far, Blodget has not responded to questions on this particular issue.

Backstory: As you might expect, Salmon and Blodget are perfectly civil in real life. 'We even had breakfast together in September," Salmon tells us via e-mail. When asked if there were any other exchanges between them that had gone unpublished, Salmon revealed that after it was all over, they'd even exchanged pleasant e-mails, below:

To: Henry Blodget From: Felix Salmon Subject: your readers

love you! And feel ever so protective of you, too, judging by my comments...

From: Henry Blodget Date: November 20, 2009 7:09:20 AM EST
To: Felix Salmon Subject: Re: your readers

Quite startling! Usually all piss and vinegar.

H

Henry Blodget
CEO, The Business Insider
hblodget@businessinsider.com

Garbled by iPhone.

Everyone's friends.

Kicked Out of Finance, And Into Journalism [Reuters]
Felix Salmon: Henry Blodget Should Be Banned From The Industry [Business Insider]
Disclosing Journalists Pasts [Reuters]
Earlier: Battle of the Blowhards: Matt Taibbi and Charlie Gasparino Prepare to Face Off

Read more posts by Jessica Pressler

Filed Under: web wedgies, business, felix salmon, henry blodget, internet fights, nerds

The Tinz Keeps It Classy [Unreality TV]

The latest (and possibly most shameless) publicity stunt designed to gin up publicity for Tinsley Mortimer's reality show has her making out with former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis. [GoaG]

YSL auction raises almost three times estimate (Reuters)

Fug Girls: Thoughts on the Project Runway Finale

Hey, we're getting better at this: For the second season in a row, we correctly divined the winner of Project Runway — although, to be honest, this season it was about as difficult to predict as announcing that it might snow while you are in the middle of a blizzard. Even with her nonexistent color palette, Irina's collection was so much better from a technical standpoint that giving the win to the others would've felt a bit like handing a painting prize to a fifth-grader instead of Monet, just because, hey, what the kid was going for MIGHT have been interesting if he'd just been a better artist. Herewith, our complete thoughts on the finale (The Cut's official recap will follow shortly).

Heather: So Irina takes home the big prize. But judging by the judges' behavior, I'm guessing we weren't the only ones a bit underwhelmed by this season.
Jessica: I know. Michael Kors wasn't as orange as usual, which I took to be a sign of ennui.
Heather: Michael Kors usually talks faster than that if he's into something, doesn't he? This time he was speaking SO slowly and SO deliberately, like he was afraid he was going to vomit out some honesty if he wasn't careful. That felt like a big tell. That, and looking like he wanted to stab someone.
Jessica: I thought it was very telling that nearly every comment the judges made was prefaced with the phrase, "I have to say ... " as though the sentence prior was something like, "Although I found this collection completely lackluster ... "
Heather: The debate felt like they'd all discussed earlier how to spin each collection so that they didn't accidentally say, "Well, we blew it with you three, sorry," and then weep for the future.
Jessica: Don't you think that during breaks in filming, Kors and Nina sneaked off to the bathroom to try to figure out who the heck was who, again? This must have felt like the final for a class they barely attended.
Heather: Hey, y'all, this is what you get when you blow off judging.
Jessica: In fairness, there's no way I would have been able to work up any enthusiasm for any of those collections either. I mean, Irina was the clear winner, but that's not saying much.
Heather: Every compliment felt vague. When deliberations started, all Nina really said was that it looked like they all spent time on their collections. It reminded me of if someone says, "It's so nice to see you," and you reply, "And you … are also here!"
Jessica: I suspect they're relieved this season is finally OVER.
Heather: At least the right person won — when it got down to Althea and Irina, I was like, "REALLY? No. They wouldn't. Would they?"
Jessica: I know. Althea and Carol Hannah's looked, as Tim Gunn would say, like student work.
Heather: Which is essentially what they still are — they may end up being fine designers someday; I just think they're a tad too raw to be finalists on this show. Rami was probably at home going, "What, I couldn't have been on this season instead?" and drying his eyes on napkins he made out of his old collection.
Jessica: Totally. Oh, and speaking of Tim, I did enjoy when he got all shirty. It was kind of thrilling.
Heather: It was easily the best moment of the entire season. It's about time he let them have it. I also enjoyed Kors talking about how Althea is plugged into "the street." It sounded like when Regis Philbin talks about how you should go to "the ABC.com."
Jessica: It was like he learned that part of his commentary phonetically.
Heather: I'm surprised they lauded that about Althea, too — it makes sense to a point, but they kept talking about how she can take what's happening on the street and put it on the runway, but isn't that backwards? If it's already on the street, isn't it already passé in fashion terms? She should look forward, not be reactive.
Jessica: I think honestly they just didn't have anything else to say about her. Like, it was that or, "Wow, those are some headbands there."
Heather: Or, "Are those Jessica Simpson–brand extensions you're wearing?" Was the talent level this awkward all season? Or did it just become apparent late in the game?
Jessica: I think it was always awkward, but in a normal season, the awkwardness would have been weeded out eventually. Whereas in this case, awkwardness was all there was.
Heather: That's exactly it. I kept thinking, "Oh, good, they've almost sorted out the chaff," and then ... more chaff. It was chafftacular. I hope they can rebound.
Jessica: With any luck, next season will be more satisfying. At least they're back in NYC, so we'll get our weekly recommended allowance of Michael and Nina. Honestly, I'm way more interested in hearing all the backbiting and bitching about this season that is going to kick off in about fifteen minutes from, I suspect, everyone involved.
Heather: Starting with the judges being like, "Okay, when I said that was 'great,' what I meant was, 'It grated.'"
Jessica: And then all the past contestants will start ragging on this season.
Heather: And then Jay McCarroll will announce that he thinks it's all Tim Gunn's fault.
Jessica: And then Irina will get arrested for intellectual-property theft.
Heather: And she can redesign prison jumpsuits, and then she can judge a future season challenge where they all have to make even NEWER slammer pants out of license plates.
Jessica: This is going to be great! Lifetime, you can make the check out to the Fug Girls.

Earlier: Predicting Tonight's Project Runway Winner

For more of the Fug Girls, check out Go Fug Yourself.

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Filed Under: new york fugging city, fug girls, heidi klum, lifetime, make it work, michael kors, project runway, tim gunn, tv

Botax! [Beauty]

One way the White House and Senate Democrats plan to pay to overhaul the health care system? By imposing a five percent tax on cosmetic procedures like breast implants, face lifts, tummy tucks, and Botox. The provision, which is projected to raise $6 billion over the next 10 years, has plastic surgeons up in arms, not surprisingly. But considering a slightly disproportionate number of cosmetic surgery consumers are Republicans, it may be a clever political move for Democrats. Even if it wreaks havoc on Nancy Pelosi's personal budget in the process. [AP]

THE OFFICE: And The Oscar Goes To…

Ahhhhhhhhhhh Oscar!!!!!!!!! That was your moment!!! How many readers were really, genuinely rooting for Oscar to just lay into the Dunder-Mifflin execs, totally validate Michael’s faith in him, and usher the company into a new era with the Wallace-Michael-Oscar arm triumphantly leading the way? All of you, right?

(By the way, I gave up feeling the need to explain “Yes, I know these are not real people…” when talking about this show like three seasons ago, in case anyone was wondering. Though I don’t imagine you, as a reader of this site, were wondering that.)

Unfortunately, Oscar keeps his mouth shut, because of The Office’s stupid good, believable writing and because that’s exactly what Oscar would do in that particular situation. LAAAAAMEEEE!!! Why couldn’t the show writing just get sh*ttier for one moment so Oscar could tear the CEO a new one and have him respond “No one has EVER talked to me like that! Clean out your desk young man…because you’re our new CFO!!!” Oscar: “Huhhhh???” Michael: “Three ARRIBAS for Oscar! Celebration in the limo!” Shareholders: “ARRIBA OSCAR!!!”

Ah well. So, Dunder-Mifflin is screwed, currently collapsing under the double-strain of the economic collapse and the shrinking need for paper merchants in general, and the executives have absolutely zero plan other than to unknowingly display Michael to the shareholders as a vague hard-times hero, and describing other nice-sounding initiatives to placate a rowdy crowd of investors. They fail miserably.

The funniest part of the episode comes when Michael — in a rare moment of non-awkwardness in front of a crowd — seizes the mic and wins over the shareholders with a series of outrageous off-the-cuff promises, including the 45-day, 45-point plan (”One point per day!”) that doesn’t exist in any way:

Ultimately, the execs aren’t impressed with “the twirl,” then Oscar chokes, and Michael and his Scranton accomplices are run out of the building, escaping back to the limo with one final bottle of liquor because they’re the “only ones who have anything to celebrate.” Last season’s Michael Scott Paper Company episodes were probably the most engaging episodes plot-wise in the show’s history, but this season appears to really be heading for something huge, with the possible entire dynamic of the show and everything about Dunder-Mifflin being threatened.

Will the producers allow for a dramatic change in the show, like Dunder-Mifflin going under or massive layoffs (bad news for Jim & pregnant Pam), or will the dilemma resolve itself nicely before the season’s end? I’d love to see the former, but I’m assuming the latter.

Meanwhile in the side-plot, Jim’s crash-course on boss politics continued during a conflict with an exceptionally A-holey Ryan, who attempted to inspire the rest of the office to apathy by telling them that Jim wasn’t actually a real boss. A laughing Stanley, a drunk Phyllis, and a meekly supportive Pam later, Jim ultimately solves the Ryan issue by relocating him to a storeroom “office,” and Jim shows some rare, sadistic satisfaction when Ryan pleads for mercy and Jim shuts the door on him. This is essentially Jim’s first boss action that doesn’t result in the officemates rioting or laughing at him, so maybe he’s finally turned a corner.

And one final detail, because it didn’t fit with the other plot points — Andy Bernard once rallied 500 high school students to protest standardized testing by skipping the SATs, then chickened out and took them anyway. How lachrymose, indeed.

Episode thoughts? Favorite parts? Favorite quotes? Predictions for the grim Dunder-Mifflin year to come? Leave ‘em all in the comments.

NEW TREND: Poopy Vag Pants

Here is an imagined conversation which we guess took place only minutes before the above snapshot was taken, between Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester and her “friend”:

Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester: How do I look?
Leighton Meester’s Friend: Hot.
Leighton Meester: Seriously?
Leighton Meester’s Friend: Hot.
Leighton Meester: You don’t think… you don’t think it looks like I… (British accent) pooped out me v-hole?
Leighton Meester’s Friend: You look hot.
Leighton Meester: These pants don’t look poo-riod stained?
Leighton Meester’s Friend: Stop. You look uhhhmeeeyyyyzzzziiiinggggg.
Leighton Meester: Ok, then… guess I’ll wear them.

Thus ending the tale of Leighton Meester and her Poopy Vag Pants. A photo of Leighton performing in these PP-V-P’s at the American Eagle Store Opening in Times Sq. ahead! (Via Allie Is Wired)

They actually look worse when she’s singing somehow.

Jessica Szohr Explains Her Sometimes Mysterious Hair on Gossip Girl

Don't blame Jessica Szohr for her hairstyling missteps as Vanessa Abrams on Gossip Girl. The 24-year-old isn't in control of her hair destiny. "They cut my hair when I first got here and it was shorter — the shortest I ever had it, and I had to get used to that," she told us last night at a Vogue Eyewear celebrity styling event at Bloomingdale's. "When I'm on set and doing that, it's about what's good for her and right for her." Which explains why she was helpless against her own better judgment when she was forced to wear an Elvira-inspired do for a recent promo picture. "I think they just used a bunch of long extensions and just curled it and curled the top to have volume," she explained, adding that a Bumpit was not required, even though the picture looked like at least four were stuffed inside her locks. "It was pretty simple and easy how they did it. I'm actually kinda shocked." But don't expect to see her on the red carpet with this style. "Personally, would I do that? Probably not. But it was Vanessa, and she's a little bit funkified," she said. "I mean, it was definitely for a certain occasion. I don't know if I would do it personally. I would have to do it messy in jeans and a T-shirt or something." Which is when we reminded her that this look certainly isn't casual.

Read more posts by Sharon Clott

Filed Under: party lines, gossip girl, jessica szohr, tv

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans - Washington Post

Washington Post

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans Washington Post There's a deranged grandeur to Nicolas Cage's performance in "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," in which he plays a police officer who plunges into drug addiction after a heroic on-the-job accident. Cage throws himself into a ... Review: 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call'San Francisco Chronicle Review: 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans'Los Angeles Times Nicolas Cage is such a 'Bad Lieutenant,' he's goodUSA Today MTV.com -New York Post -The Star-Ledger - NJ.com all 905 news articles »

One of the Many, Everyday Perks of Being a Supreme Court Justice

Not only can you censor student newspapers, but when you forget your purse at a restaurant — as Sonia Sotomayor did at Brooklyn's Po last night — you can have your security detail go and retrieve it for you. [Plank/New Republic]

Read more posts by Dan Amira

Filed Under: the supremes, po, sonia sotomayor, supreme court

Oprah: Show ending in 2011

Trailer for Tea Party Movie Is Apparently Sincere

We've noticed that Tea Party activists have a habit of unintentionally doing things to invite mockery upon themselves. Their use of tea bags as a political prop made it all too easy for liberal critics to refer to the group using a term for a sexual prank involving the scrotum. The full Revolutionary-era garb donned by their most devoted members without a hint of self-consciousness makes them appear less than serious and kind of insane. And then you have this trailer for a straight-to-DVD Tea Party documentary, which, with its vainglorious, Don LaFontaine–esque voice-over and melodramatic music, seems to be parodying the movement. But apparently, it isn't. Regardless, your search for the perfect stocking stuffer is over.

Tea Party, the movie [Politico]

Read more posts by Dan Amira

Filed Under: tea time, politics, tea partiers, tea party documentary, tea party movie

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Returns to New York (Fashion Wire Daily)

Fashion Wire Daily - The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show came back to New York City in its 14th year and took audience members on a wild journey through various themes from futuristic to classical romantic on Thursday, Nov. 19.

L.A Boutique Insulted by Lindsay Lohan Insults Back!

Lohan may need to find another store to sell her leggings line.

VIDEO: Jason Segel Performs “Here’s My Phone Number, Call Me And Let’s Have Sex”

Jason Segel of Forgetting Sarah Marshall fame appeared onstage with The Swell Season, the musicians from the movie Once, in today’s “If the internet didn’t exist, we never would have seen this, so good on you internet” clip of the day.

After lamenting the politics that led to his Dracula Musical getting snubbed by Once at the Oscars last year, Segel then performs a song giving out his phone number to college girls in case they want to have sex with him for his celebrity. Aka, the song that every musician sings, just more obviously:

(via /Film)

Wesley Snipes Appealing 3-Year Prison Sentence on Tax Charges

Snipes was sentenced in April 2008 in what was considered a key victory for prosecutors who aggressively pursued the maximum penalty to deter others from trying to obstruct the IRS. 

BEST DAY EVER: Gabe Liedman Now Knows Too Much About Robert Pattinson’s Buttinson

This week the cast of New Moon, Sarah Palin, and Levi Johnston were all competing to see who could appear in the most places possible, but they’re all apparently amateurs compared to “The Observers” on Fringe. Gabe Liedman has the proof on this episode of Best Day Ever:

Catch another Best Day Ever with Gabe Liedman tonight at 11pm on Vh1.

The Simpsons

New York Subway Still Holding Out Hope For “Hank”

I had the privilege of sitting across from this sweet Hank ad on the subway this morning. Even though the show is now canceled, it wasn’t for the lack of a really confusing ad campaign with a paragraph of information and little cartoon pictures instead of words:

Who wouldn’t want to watch that?? Good CLOVER, Hank, try not to REDFACE!!!

Apologies for the poorly lit photo, but I could only swallow my dignity long enough to take three phone pictures of the Hank subway ad in front of a bunch of strangers. Guess I’ll have to wait another year for my photography Pulitzer — enjoy it, lady taking picture of exploded school in Afghanistan, or whoever.

Miley Cyrus Tour Bus Crash Kills One

Cyrus was not aboard the bus when it rolled over on the highway.

Your views: 'New Moon' is 'awesome'

DISCOVERED: Rapping Worse Than That on Glee

These White Christian rappers sangin’ about the ol’ “Christian Side Hug” is officially the worst rapping we’ve ever heard. Yes, even worse than the rapping done by Mr. Schuester on Glee. And even though the commenters at Buzzfeed have already pointed the “FAKE” finger, comedy or not, this is abysmal and needs to be stopped.

Life after death on Broadway

'New Moon' breaks box office records

Van Der Beek files for divorce

Heidi Klum wows crowd at Victoria's Secret show (AP)

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.

Ain’t No Party Like a Larry King Birthday Party

On the top of my agenda for 2010? GET INVITED TO LARRY KING’S BIRTHDAY PARTY. Look at these lucky f**kers: Don Johnson (in the little red hat, left); Ryan Seacrest (in the feathery headpiece, Bob Mackie probably, middle); and bday boy Larry King (small red hat, faraway stare, right). Seacrest’s Twitter tells us it was an “Old Western” theme. More like Ancient Western! Tip your waitresses.

(ps Seacrest’s profile pic = adorable.)

Designer Christian Siriano Wants to See More Options for Fuller Figured Women

The "Project Runway" winner says he thinks it's "fabulous" that there are increasingly more realistic representations of women in fashion

Are Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes Jeopardizing Suri's Growth With High Heels?

The growing bones in a small child's foot can be damaged by wearing high heels, says doctor.

Follow Friday: Tweeting with the vampire

Review: New 'Bad Lieutenant' intriguing

Big business for 'Moon' romance

Taylor Swift on her meteoric rise

She has questioned some of the world's most famous people

'Brady Bunch' Feud: Susan 'Cindy' Olsen Says Lesbian Rumors False

She's not choosing sides, but Cindy says Marcia lied about lesbian affair with Jan.