Reuters - With fireworks and fanfare, MGM Mirage late Wednesday opened Aria, the flagship casino-hotel of its $8.5 billion CityCenter development, adding thousands of high-end rooms to the hotel glut on the Las Vegas Strip.
 Reuters | Courtney Love court ordered away from daughter Boston Herald By Herald Wire Services Courtney Love has been ordered to stay away from her 17-year-old daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, Radaronline.com reports. A temporary restraining order has been granted prohibiting Love from having any contact with her daughter, ... Courtney Love Blasts Frances Bean On Facebook After Losing Custody Courtney Love: I Don't Want Frances to "Become Jamie L. Spears" Courtney Love loses legal custody over daughter |
Funny People: Steve Carell and Tina Fey are attached to star in Mail-Order Groom, a comedy reuniting the two Date Night stars. The story revolves around a woman who has trouble finding love. She travels to Eastern Europe, where she finds a husband to bring home to the U.S. Based on an idea from Fey's husband, Jeff Richmond, the script is currently undergoing a rewrite because it didn't include enough cheesy blasters. [THR]
Where the Streets Have No Shame: Emmy Rossum has singed on to star opposite William H. Macy in John Wells' Showtime pilot Shameless. The show is based on a long-running British TV show and the U.S. version will focus on a blue collar Chicago family hit hard by the recession. With a missing mother and a drunkard for a father (Macy), the family's 18-year-old daughter (Rossum) is forced to take care of her five younger brothers. It's a truly impossible task, since one woman can only prevent so many wedgies. [THR]
Chuck Broadcasting System: CBS has given the greenlight to Mike and Molly, a multicamera sitcom from Chuck Lorre, the brains behind Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory. Written by Mark Roberts, the show revolves around a couple that constantly has to deal with overeating. They address their problem by joining Overeaters Anonymous. Think of it as Rosanne meets The Biggest Loser meets Intervention. [THR]
Norse Code: Rene Russo has joined the cast of Kenneth Branagh's CGI-heavy Thor. Russo will play Frigga, the wife of Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and the step-mother of Thor. The rest of the cast includes Kat Dennings, Idris Elba, Stuart Townsend and Ray Stevenson. Somehow, Fabio isn't involved. [Variety]
Fresh Take: USA Network is developing a series based on the 1990 movie The Freshman. Andrew Bergman, who wrote and directed the original film, will write the adaptation for Sony TV. The movie, which starred Marlon Brando and Matthew Broderick, centered on a naive NYU student who unwittingly gets a job for a mob boss. He becomes suspicious after finding thumbs in the spaghetti. [THR]
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Filed Under: the industry, andrew bergman, cbs, chuck lorre, date night, emmy rossum, kenneth branagh, mail-order husband, mike and molly, movies, rene russo, shameless, showtime, sony tv, steve carell, thor, tina fey, tv, usa network, william h. macy
 Globe and Mail | Elin moves out of Tiger's den MiamiHerald.com Looks like Tiger Woods will be spending the holidays solo. Actually, we doubt that; he never seems to be hurting for company -- various lovelies are just a few text messages away. But The New York Post reports that wife Elin Nordegren and their two ... Elin Nordegren to Spend Holidays in Sweden Without Tiger In Sweden, business as usual for Tiger's in-laws Tiger Woods' Wife, Kids Leaving Him for the Holidays |
With Christmas almost a week away and health care reform still bogged down in the Senate, Democrats seem poised to miss their self-imposed deadline to pass the legislation in time for everyone to go home for consumerist rituals. The main reason they're having so much trouble? Those pesky Republicans. Yesterday the G.O.P. brought debate to a standstill by forcing the reading of a 767-page amendment on creating a single-payer health care system. The shenanigans lasted three hours before Democrats pulled the measure. But don't expect the stall tactics to end there. Today Republican Sen. Tom Cobun said “There will be several more attempts to derail this bill from a parliamentary standpoint by me.” And if he doesn't succeed, maybe a Democrat will kill the bill for him!
Vote by Christmas in peril [Politico]
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Filed Under: health carnage, health care, politics, senate, tom coburn
 Globe and Mail | Roy E. Disney Dies at 79; Rejuvenated Animation New York Times LOS ANGELES — Roy E. Disney, who helped revitalize the famed animation division of the company founded by his uncle, Walt Disney, and who at times publicly feuded with top Disney executives, died on Wednesday in Newport Beach, Calif. ... Walt's nephew was a more-than-capable champion of animation. Disney biographer remembers Roy E. Disney Roy E. Disney | 1930-2009 He built up his family's legacy |
The most painful part of tonight's So You Think You Can Dance finale was not watching Adam Lambert turn in a creatively neutered performance of "Whattya Want From Me."
No,...
In the wake of Robin Williams' rotting failure Old Dogs, which already led Disney to cancel the production of his upcoming Wedding Band, the studio is pulling the plug on the old man bromantic comedy Wild Hogs 2: Bachelor Ride. It's actually kind of surprising given the runaway success of Wild Hogs, which made $252 million worldwide. But since Old Dogs was basically the same movie as Wild Hogs 2, Disney honcho Rich Ross decided the studio would be better off without another movie full of Rogaine jokes. Seems like a good call.
Disney's "Wild Hogs" Sequel Stalls Out [Variety]
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Filed Under: cancellations, disney, movies, old dogs, robin williams
Don't you worry your pretty little heads, So You Think You Can Dancers—season six champ Russell Ferguson will live to krump another day!
Amid injury and so-called dance style...
 Sydney Morning Herald | 'Avatar' premiere: Hollywood's night on the blue carpet [Photo gallery] Los Angeles Times The stars of "Avatar" made a fine showing in the flesh on Wednesday evening in Hollywood, hitting the blue carpet in support of James Cameron's hotly anticipated sci-fi effort, which opens this Friday. Among the cast members on the not-red-at-all ... 'Avatar' is an epic adventure - and great fun Movie review: Cameron's otherworldly 'Avatar' 'Avatar' advance ticket sales skewing male |
Several education groups filed suit against Governor Paterson today to try to keep him from withholding scheduled school aid. They argued that Paterson is violating the state Constitution by unilaterally deciding to stop the payments, which have already been authorized by the state Legislature. Paterson, for his part, is holding his ground. And why not? The people love him. [NYDN]
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Filed Under: oh albany!, budget crisis, david paterson, politics, state senate
The Courtney Love and Frances Bean saga continued to unfold today as Love took to Facebook to set in the record straight. Instead, she insulted her daughter, calling her "not always honest" and "clearly deluded." And then, when it seemed like this whole thing had reached the maximum amount of crazy, a judge issued a restraining order prohibiting Courtney form having any "direct or indirect contact" with Frances. [MTV News]
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Filed Under: she's lost control, courtney love, frances bean cobain, meet the parents
Where to even begin? Lady Gaga is all over-the-top and all fabulousness. Rihanna is nothing but fierce. Kristen Stewart has found her way. Gwen Stefani never goes to the playground without makeup,...
Well, it's doomsday. The MTA voted today to cut 52 bus routes, drop the W and Z lines and shorten the G and M lines in an attempt to close a $383 million budget gap. The cuts also include plans to phase out free subway fares for students, lay off 700 workers and reduce management salaries by 10 percent. Sounds awful, right? Just remember it could always be worse. For example, there could be fare increase. And, ucky for everyone, that's not happening until 2011.
MTA votes for major service cuts to fill $383M budget gap [NYP]
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Filed Under: stand clear of the closing doors, doomsday, mta, subway
It’s a familiar drill by now for American TV shows set in high-schools: by the thirds or fourth season, when the producers can no longer pretend those aren’t gray hairs on the heads of their attractive cast of pretend teenagers, there’s only one solution: time to relocate the show to college! Be it the “California University” of 90210 or SUNY-Meatpacking District in Gossip Girl, every program eventually follows its leads as they grow and leave. Except Friday Night Lights: it’s a show about those who get left behind.
Last week’s Farewell to Backup Arms extravaganza was called “Stay,” but that name could easily be used for this episode, particularly in regards to our abandoned blondes, Julie and Landry. Julie’s situation is the most distressing: Matt is gone, leaving after one last Heartless Bastards show in Austin, and he hasn’t even had the decency to call from — where is he, anyway? Chicago? Hanging out in L.A. with Dane Cook? Regardless, he has called Grandma, who gets a nice moment here. But all of this has left Julie bereft, confused and Full! Of! Energy! While the hour begins with her waking, ashen, in her gray bedroom (under a Liars poster, no less! Does Pitchfork need interns in West Texas?) Julie doesn’t stay still for long, hiding her grief by signing up for every extracurricular on offer at East Dillon and insisting, quite loudly and incorrectly, that none of this has anything at all to do with the departure of her boyfriend.
Heck, she even signs Landry up for a dubious club called “Academic Smackdown,” which we guess is like Mathletes for better-rounded people. Landry — Landry! — is afraid there will be “losers” in the club, but in fact, Jess is in it! She claims she does “smackdown” every year, which is quite a feat considering East Dillon has only been open for two months or so, but why quibble?
Julie acts out her grief by becoming an insane person, basically, running her fellow Smackdowners ragged in advance of their big weekend match over at West Dillon. “He knows nothing about World War II!” she screams, forcing Landry to give her a time-out over by the library cards. “It’s not about Matt!” she yells (which is Juliespeak for “it’s about Matt!”). Later, in her car, Julie plays a mix CD made for her by Matt called “Tunes for My Girl,” which consists of schmaltzy Grey’s Anatomy piano-rock. Jeez, QB2 — we thought you were supposed to be an artist! We guess “My Awesome Mix Tape #6” was already taken. At the Academic Smackdown Julie volunteers to answer a question about “Mid-Century author Thomas Wolfe,” which leads to her sobbing out very It’s-About-Matt titles like “Look Homeward Angel” and “You Can’t Go Home Again” before running offstage. What mid-episode plot point was so creaky it woke up all the cats in our neighborhood? This one.
But it’s worth it for what follows, as Tami swoops in and saves the day, comforting the almost equally-excellent Aimee Teegarden by telling her that her life will, indeed, go on. Speaking of Tami, she finally gets to enjoy her job as principal of West Dillon — at least for a little while. With Joe McCoy and the Jerk Patrol out of sight, and the attention turned from football, we learned that under Tami’s stewardship the school has won a prestigious “Blue Ribbon” award from the state. And who should return just in time to celebrate? It’s pasty-faced Glenn, the doughy vice-principal-ish dude who was maybe a little too involved with Mrs. Coach last season. Glenn, all virtuous, suggests a night out for the school administrators. This seems like a great idea, especially since his notion of a good time is karaoke and tequila shots. Of course you know where this is going, as a delightful party is ruined by Pasty Glenn attempting to plant one on Mrs. Coach as they wait for cabs. Oh, Glenn! Oh no you didn’t!
But Tami (pictured here) shrugs it off, even confronting Ol’ Pasty the very next day, forgiving him and shaming him at the same time. His response? Saying that he “mouthraped” her. GLENN! Maybe sit the next couple plays out, huh, champ? We think we speak for everyone on planet Earth when we say we hope this plot goes nowhere and serves no purpose other than once again showing that Tami Taylor is the most together and competent person who has ever lived (or, in the case of fictional television shows like this one, not lived).
What else? Well, over in the satellite republic of Tim-and-Beckystan, Becky’s nogoodnik truckdriving father shows up at home for a few awkward days of attempting to buy-off his daughter’s devotion with puppies. Now, last week a few commenters took us to task for being a bit harsh on Becky, and we think they may have had a point: Becky is the first actual young person we’ve focused on here. Her innocence and neediness and occasional inappropriateness are worlds away from the self-made hardscrabble types (think: Tyra, Tim, Matt) that Dillon seems to specialize in producing. So with that in mind we found her complete denial over her father — especially compounded with the knowledge bomb Tim drops on her about her dad’s secret other family in Seattle — to be touching, not annoying. And the scene where Tim breaks it to her is a great piece of writing, reminding us that Tim takes this personally: his father also abandoned him and tried to buy him off with stuff. “That’s what they do,” he hisses. And then Tim gets in a mud fight with Trucker Dad and buys back the puppy for Becky. He also names the puppy “Skeeter” and has a Kodak moment with some land that’s for sale. Where that’s leading, we have no idea. But we demand more Skeeter!
Coach’s arc this week was once again tied up with Vince, who must be getting sick of all of these “be a man and lead” speeches. No sooner does the former Wallace get the job of QB1 (about time!) then principal Stresscase leads some of Dillon’s Finest into the locker room and makes Eric open Vince’s locker so they can search for a gun. Nice! Way to back up your players, Coach! There’s no gun but it takes some speechifying from Tami (“Would you have let the cops search Landry’s locker?” she asks. What would they find in there, we wonder? A pocket-protector and some Pedro the Lion bootlegs?) as well as some sweet perspective from Vince’s sober-for-now Mom for the message to really sink in. Coach tells Vince to lead (again!) and the episode ends with Vince knocking on the Taylor’s door and trading a suspiciously heavy paper bag for a man-to-man handshake from Coach. Now, as to how Coach is actually going to “disappear” an illegal handgun, we don’t know since we’re not Bubbles and this isn’t West Baltimore, but we love the way the show is allowing all of these new relationships to develop slowly and organically. Vince isn’t Smash any more than Luke is Matt or Jess is Tyra (other than her love for big-headed ol’ Landry, that is). New people, new situations. The only thing that isn’t new is how much we’re loving it. Is the season over halfway over already?
Some stray thoughts:
• Luke’s dad is afraid of cow-rustlers! SO ARE WE!
• Of course it seems what he should really be afraid of is swinging gates. Anyone think Luke will be able to play next week?
• We love Tinker, East Dillon’s friendly big dude, helping Luke and his dad build the fence. We also love him stealing Luke’s fries, but that seems less important. Actually, the whole seeing-Luke-busting-his-ass-for-his ball-busting-school-hating-folks thing makes us appreciate the character even more.
• The Riggins boys have very clear priorities: fast food first, then hospital. They also refuse to sell their pet cow, KitKat. We support them in this decision.
• Having Crazy Eyes show up at Billy Riggins’s stripper event/baby shower/fundraiser and offer “a business opportunity” is a surprising turn of events. Didn’t expect to see these worlds overlap and we sincerely hope that the season doesn’t end with Billy Riggins starring as the Tiniest Inmate in Texas.
• So Landry finally gets over Tyra this episode by leaving her a voicemail at a highway rest-stop. And we say: good! Jess is fantastic, dude. She makes a mean pulled-pork sandwich and she knows the year of the Battle of Stalingrad. Wife material!
• A final thought: we are expected to believe that Landry manages to attend both football practice and Academic Smackdown review at the same time.We know he’s just a kicker and also some kind of high-SAT-scoring genius but this seems impossible. In fact, the struggle to wrap our heads around it led us to the creation of what we’re calling the Unified Landry Theory (ULT) which is: sometime during the Season That Shall Not Be Named (coughtwocough) Landry was cloned. Landry Prime is still a geek, the one who wisecracks with Matt, chastely drives Jess to parties, and fronts Crucifictorious. Landry 2 (or Dark Landry) is the one who joined the football team, stuck his tongue down Jess’s throat, bagged Lyla and, y’know, killed a guy. He’s able to be in two places at the same time. Think about it. You know we’re right.
Read more posts by Andy Greenwald
Filed Under: overnights, friday night lights, tv
Of all the different end of the decade lists Billboard has put together, none has a less surprising name on top than the list of top touring artists of the 2000s. It's The Rolling Stones, of course. The group of elderly legends played 264 shows in the decade and made a nutty $869 million. U2 and Madonna were the only other artists to pass the $800 million mark. The rest of the top five included Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. This is your Social Security money at work.
Top Touring Artists [Billboard]
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Filed Under: lists, rolling stones
That salacious lawsuit filed against SAC Capital by a former trader at the mega-hedge fund was just the tip of the iceberg. Steve Cohen, SAC's super-secretive founder, now has an even more embarrassing legal mess on his hands. Cohen's first wife, Patricia, whom he divorced in 1988, has filed a $300 million lawsuit against the billionaire, alleging he engaged in insider trading in the 1980s and later concealed millions of dollars of assets from her by setting up a racketeering scheme with his brother. [NYT]
It takes a superhero to talk sense to Congress, especially in a world where Garry Shandling is fit to hold elected office. Thankfully, we have that hero.
In the trailer for Iron Man 2,...
AP - The scene was Van Nuys Airport in the San Fernando Valley. Patty and Roy E. Disney were preparing for a flight to New York to help promote a book about Roy's father who found the money to realize the dreams of his brother, Walt Disney. Patty and Roy were seated in the right front row. They were holding hands as the plane, which Roy owned, trundled down the runway to prepare for the flight.
The battle between Williamsburg bicyclists and Williamsburg Jews over a Bedford Avenue bike lane will take a turn for the naked this weekend when at least 50 protesters pedal down the street with no clothes. The protest is a response to complaints from some Orthodox Jews about cyclists who bare too much skin and comes a few weeks after the city painted over a bike lane on Bedford. Some guerrilla bicyclists (not gorilla bicyclists, unfortunately) repainted the lane, which the city quickly covered again, leaving the bicyclists with only one logical course of action — riding naked in sub-freezing temperatures.
Bike Riders Will Get Naked To Save The Bedford Ave. Lane [Gothamist]
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Filed Under: hipsters, bike lanes, bikes, holy wars, nudity, williamsburg
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released the list of 63 songs that will be vying for nominations for best original song. Five songs from Hannah Montana the Movie appear on the list along with four from The Princess and the Frog. It's hard not to notice that there's not a single Anvil song on the list. Sure, none of the songs from Anvil! The Story of Anvil actually qualify (lyrics and music must be written specifically for the film), but there couldn't be a better excuse to break the rules than "Metal on Metal." [THR]
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Filed Under: kudos, academy awards, anvil, anvil! the story of anvil, hannah montana, movies, music
Brian Moynihan, Bank of America's head of consumer and small-business banking operations, will take over for Ken Lewis as the company's CEO at the start of next year. The bank had been searching for a new executive since late September and eventually found its man inside the company. It's more proof that being a yes-man is the path to the top. [NYT]
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Filed Under: white men with money, bank of america, brian moynihan, business
Photo: Flickr/macrocurry, related
The Academy may not have thought much of New Moon's Jacob-to-wolf transformation, but apparently the moody music did it for 'em.
Lykke Li's "Possibility," off the...
 USA Today | Health Expert: Santa Needs a Carrot, Not a Cookie ABC News Give Santa a carrot, not a cookie: Expert deems Mr. Claus an unhealthy, reckless role model The Associated Press Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus. And he's a public health menace. Public health expert Nathan Grills of Monash University in ... Santa accused of damaging lives… Confessions of three hired Santas Post Office fields desperate appeals from needy kids, families |
You have to give Madonna an enormous amount of credit for trying to do something she likely hasn't attempted since the early '80s. As part of her new ad campaign for Dolce & Gabbana, Madge can be seen washing dishes. In a sink. Wth her own two hands. That look of confusion on her face isn't accidental! [NBC]
AP - The first Queen Elizabeth has been the It Girl of the British monarchy in recent times in Hollywood. Queen Victoria now gets royal treatment with a fresh film biography starring Emily Blunt as the empire's longest-reigning ruler in her early years.
Perhaps as a way to make amends for disappointing a nation of millions when he revealed that he had nothing to do with his daughter's birthday cake that was shaped like Lil Wayne, it was announced today that proud 1994 (!) Tisch School alum Alec Baldwin will be donating $1 million to New York University to establish the Alec Baldwin Drama Scholarship Fund. In a statement, the university explained that the prize will be awarded to students who demonstrate "work ethic, development of leadership skills, willingness to collaborate, the ability to tolerate risk, and the capacity to work with constructive criticism." It's that last part — "the capacity to work with constructive criticism" — that cracks us up the most. We can only hope that this means that Baldwin will leave regular, encouraging voice mails for scholarship recipients.
Alec Baldwin donates $1 million to alma mater Tisch [News Briefs/EW]
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Filed Under: baldwins, alec baldwin, tax relief
It looks like Andy Madoff may have figured out his next career move. Last week, the Journal reported that Bernie Madoff's youngest son was planning to get into "disaster recovery." Now word has it Andy and his girlfriend Catherine Hooper are behind a disaster management company called Black Umbrella, which "builds practical, efficient disaster plans for individuals, couples and families." Just so you're aware, the types of disasters Black Umbrella claims to be equipped to handle are along the lines of Hurricane Katrina and 9/11. The disaster of waking up to find that someone you'd always trusted stole your life savings? You'll have to look elsewhere for help on that one. [Dealbreaker]
Nicole Kidman has much promotional work and many red-carpet appearances coming up for the release of her latest film, Nine. And one would think she would want to sparkle and shine like the mega movie star that she is, stealing the spotlight from her many other high-wattage female co-stars by way of mega-movie-star gowns. Not that she has to be flashy like Beyoncé with a scary amount of sequins and glitter, but Nicole has a habit of wearing flesh tones, which are often the opposite of standout. In fact, they practically make her invisible. Her neck, her arms, her legs — any area where skin meets fabric becomes a haze of sameness. Remarkably, the woman seems to find a flesh-toned version of every color recognized by Pantone. And we're tired of it. It's nice from time to time, but we'd love to see her in more color, reds and things. Hell, even chartreuse! Take a look back at her flesh-hued frocks of 2009 in the slideshow.
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: fashion yearbook, nicole kidman, slideshow
UPDATE: Simpson just tweeted off: "Can't believe that I'm on the cover of star magazine with Tiger Woods, what a JOKE! 'The Shocking Inside Story' is (insert drumroll) A...
You’d think Alicia Keys doing “Empire State of Mind” on The Colbert Report without Jay-Z but with a slow new intro would be boring. YOU WOULD BE WRONG. That’s because Stephen Colbert more than gamely filled in, coming out of nowhere to drop a whole new verse while wearing what looks like a hooded suit. Non–Andy Samberg parody rap is usually a terrible idea, but this was too goofy not to work: We’re pretty sure Colbert’s reading the words off a TelePrompTer, plus he stays totally stiff the whole time in what appears to be an attempt not to break his concentration; also, the lyrics are mostly about Connecticut and Times Square: “M&M store, Disney store, I’m in heaven / I own this town from 41st to 47th / take it to the Lion King, that show is fantastic / leave half an hour early so I can beat the traffic.” Everybody say yeah!
Watch Stephen Colbert and Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind" Remix [Pitchfork]
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Filed Under: right-click, alicia keys, music, stephen colbert, television, the colbert report, tv, video
AP - Roy E. Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney whose powerful behind-the-scenes influence on The Walt Disney Co. led to the departure of former chief Michael Eisner, has died. He was 79.
Just when you didn't think things could get worse for Courtney Love...
Days after we learned the epically troubled rocker lost legal custody of daughter Frances Bean...
In theaters today is Scott Cooper's Crazy Heart, the story of a boozy, washed-up country singer in search of new love and a new hit. The film is receiving major attention for Jeff Bridges's scenery-eating lead performance as Otis "Bad" Blake, for which he's considered a Best Actor front-runner. Presumably Oscar-bound too, though, is singer and songwriter Ryan Bingham, composer of "The Weary Kind," the film's theme song, which was nominated for a Golden Globe yesterday. We spoke with Bingham last week about acting in the film (his band, the Dead Horses, appears in an early scene); working with Heart's music director, T-Bone Burnett; and his awards chances.
Your role in the film started out small and grew. How did that all happen?
[Director] Scott Cooper had approached me about writing music and that was it. My agent, Jack Whigham at CAA, had sent him my first record, Mescalito. A few weeks later, we had lunch and he gave me a script. I went on the road for a couple weeks and I came back and wrote "Weary Kind." We hadn't really talked about me playing a part or having my band in the film until afterward. Scott and T-Bone and those guys, they came out and saw us play a couple times and were like, "Man, it'd be great to have you guys be the band in the bowling alley."
And you'd never acted before? Is it nerve-racking doing your first-ever scene opposite Jeff Bridges?
No. I was kind of nervous when they first asked me to do it. But after meeting with Jeff and going through some lines with him … that guy is just such a good-hearted soul and just such a professional that when we were doing the scene, he just kinda made everything go away. The atmosphere and the vibe were really cool. There was no bullshit. It was really a pleasurable experience.
"Weary Kind" plays a central role in the movie. How was it decided that this track would be "the one"?
Well, I wrote the song and I recorded it at home. Scott and T-Bone gave me a call and wanted me to come over and meet up with them. So I brought the tune over and we sat down and listened to it. Right off the bat, T-Bone looked at me and said, "That's the song we want to use."
T-Bone is actually credited as a co-writer. What did he add to it?
That line at the end of the song — "You are the man who ruined the world" — he came up with that. I can't really remember all the little things he did. But that was the main thing, he helped on that last verse. I pretty much just had a couple of verses and the chorus, and we added a little more to it.
Jeff Bridges sings and plays guitar in the movie. As a musician, was he able to keep up with you and your band?
Yeah, he's great. He was there every time we got in a circle of songwriters at T-Bone's house, playing and singing tunes. I was really impressed by him and Colin Farrell. I thought Colin sang great as well. Really, with that Irish background, I think folk music is just in his blood.
There's a lot of Oscar talk for "Weary Kind." How much are you thinking about that right now?
It's great. I'm happy that people like the song and that it does something for them. If it wins, great, if it doesn't, that's fine as well. I'm proud of the tune, I think T-Bone is. And everybody's proud of the film, so great.
What's up next for you?
I'm gonna go in the studio in March and I think T-Bone's gonna produce a record for me. So I might spend the first part of the year just tightening up some songs and do another record in March. Me and the guys will get back on the road in April for the rest of the year.
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Filed Under: chat room, colin farrell, crazy heart, jeff bridges, kudos, movies, music, ryan bingham, t-bone burnett
Nicole Kidman at last night’s New York City Nine premiere, doing her best Lindsay Lohan meets Mrs. Doubtfire impression. More photos of this powder malfunction over at Just Jared.
Michelle Obama donated toys this morning in a tweed coat and black-and-white-checked shirt with some kind of detailing on it that we can't quite make out. Bows? Reindeer antlers? Hopefully neither? See the full look in the Michelle Obama Look Book.
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Filed Under: mobama watch, michelle obama
Opera controversies seem to take place in a blacked-out snow globe: So far, only those who actually saw Luc Bondy’s production of Tosca live at the Metropolitan Opera got to be outraged — or to be outraged at the outrage. Everyone else had to make what they could of the descriptions of Scarpia getting physical with a statue of the Virgin Mary, and other tasteful stage business. Fortunately, there’s PBS. The show has closed for the season, but the Met’s high-gloss video version of Tosca airs on WNET/Thirteen tonight. It’s not as much fun to boo in private, and you don’t get to shush the booers, either, but at least now viewers at home can vote with their remotes on the most divisive operatic production in years.
Read more posts by Justin Davidson
Filed Under: psa, classical, luc bindy, metropolitan opera, music, opera, tosca
At the New York premiere of Nine last night, Broadway legend Tommy Tune was walking around telling people who he thought would really appreciate the film: Tiger Woods. "It's a really fine film, and what's fascinating is that it's premiering on this day of infidelity, on the day they found another woman in the life of overblessed Tiger Woods," he told us. "You know, there's a little bit of [the film's protagonist] Guido in everybody, but he seems to have gotten a larger portion." We'll say. "I hope he sees it. I think it will help him. Because it takes a very understanding view of infidelity and then makes a case for fidelity, which is, you know, a rare thing in this world," Tune added. "It's on the mark!" Rob Marshall, who directed the film and probably spies a great marketing tie-in (see our reimagined poster here), could not agree more. "It's very timely. I felt that way when we were working on it because we've seen a lot of powerful figures fall from grace and sort of find themselves in this incredibly vulnerable position after having created a web of lies and deceit. Our movie is very much a cautionary tale about that," he said. "It's funny how it resonates. Tony Bennett said that to me tonight: 'Tiger Woods should see this film.' To me it's about a man who needs to begin again."
Read more posts by Jada Yuan
Filed Under: party lines, nine, tiger catches tail, tiger woods
Lindsay Lohan wore some runned-up tights while out and about in Beverly Hills yesterday.
Do you think the runs were on purpose?
Read more posts by Amina Akhtar
Filed Under: look of the day, lindsay lohan
Amy Sacco's Bungalow 8 went out of business in October. But she just had some great news come her way! Sacco prevailed in a long-running legal battle against Bungalow 8's onetime insurance company.
Allow us to explain. Way back in 2004, a customer named Dwayne Rodgers filed a lawsuit against Bungalow 8, claiming he'd been the victim of discrimination at the former hotspot. What went down, exactly? Rodgers says he opened up a tab at the bar and was asked to provide his driver's license along with his credit card—which is standard operating procedure—but Rodgers soon noticed that white patrons who opened tabs were not asked for identification by the bartender. When Rodgers "shared his observation" (the judge's words, not ours) with the guy behind the bar, a scuffle ensued causing Rodgers "to fall onto a banquette and to suffer bodily injuries." You can probably guess what happened next: Rodgers filed a lawsuit.
More trouble for Sacco ensued when she contacted her insurance company about the suit. The company tried to get out of covering the claim based on a bunch of technicalities. That's when Sacco went on the offensive and sued the insurance company. And last week she emerged victorious! Too bad she can't celebrate with a glass of champagne at Bungalow 8 tonight. The ruling by the Hon. Michael D. Stallman of New York Supreme Court is below.
MAKEUP
• Cate Blanchett on her past makeup routine: "Back then, I'd go to bed with my makeup on if I'd been out. And I went through a big gothic phase, so my pillow was always covered in black mascara and white pancake makeup ... I'm definitely more careful now about removing it. Also, my linen is nicer than it was before and I don't want to ruin it." [StyleList]
FRAGRANCE
• Lanvin is releasing an update to its romantic Jeanne fragrance, named after the house's founder, Jeanne Lanvin. Perfumer Olivier Pescheux is creating the rose-inspired limited-edition scent to be released this March. [Independent UK]
• Mango launched a new fragrance named Lady Rebel. While it's inspired by rock stars, the notes include fruity florals like strawberry, pineapple, and rose petals. So ... soft rock? [Now Smell This]
HAIR
• Willow Pinkett-Smith, the daughter of Jada Pinkett and Will Smith, shaved half of her head, similar to Rihanna, Cassie, and Alice Dellal. Except Willow is 9 years old. [Spoiled Pretty]
NAILS
• American Apparel just launched its own line of nail polish. The collection features eighteen colors, and each bottle costs $6. [BlackBook]
SKIN
• Rachel McAdams: "My mother never put an emphasis on looks. She let us grow up on our own timeline. She never forced any beauty regimen into my world." [Us]
Read more posts by Sharon Clott
Filed Under: beauty marks, american apparel, beauty, cate blanchett, fragrance, hair, jada pinkett-smith, lanvin, makeup, mango, nails, rachel mcadams, will smith, willow smith
Things seem to be coming down on the big guy all at once. As if the SAC Capital founder's plate wasn't full enough with the Galleon investigation getting up in his business and the crazy tranny trader thing, now Patricia Finke, Steve Cohen's ex-wife of ages ago and the mother of his two children, is suing him for $300 million, saying he hid funds from her during their marriage, and accusing him of running a racketeering scheme.
She claims her former husband lied under oath about his net worth, conducted mail and wire fraud and concealed from her and the Supreme Court of New York millions of dollars that he possessed in 1990, thus reducing her divorce settlement.
And she's accusing him of insider trading.
She claims in her suit that in 1985, while they were married, Mr. Cohen confessed to her that he received inside information on the takeover of RCA by General Electric. When she asked him if trading on such information would be illegal, Mr. Cohen said that that he knew that the source was a former classmate of his from Wharton. But he obtained the information from a mutual friend, so he was not involved in insider trading.
Ex-Wife Claims Cohen Made Millions in Insider Trading [NYT]
Read more posts by Jessica Pressler
Filed Under: white men with money, sac capital, steve cohen
It's a "pretty grim atmosphere" over at the Times today, when layoffs are coming down from on high as the paper tries to reach the 100-person editorial cut it announced earlier this fall. While 74 staff members took the buyout, that left 26 to go. Layoffs have been ongoing all day, sources tell us, with the unlucky few people called upstairs out of the newsroom — where now people are "standing around in clumps and obviously talking about everything." Here's the list of names that we know so far who have gotten the ax, and their departments:
Eric Konigsberg — Culture
Sara Rimer — National
Christine Hauser — Metro
Josh Barbanel — Real Estate
Mitch Blumenthal — Continuous News
Kate Galbraith — Business
Allen Salkin — Styles
Monica Evanchik — Web
Barbanel is married to Times writer Anemona Hartocollis, who remains on staff. "They both came to work today with jobs, and one of them went home without one," observed one writer. "Not that that should mean some kind of job security, but it's kind of fucked up." Salkin was another surprise, as he contributes a cover story almost every week to "Styles." But the cut that's sparking the most buzz is Konigsberg, who was brought to the paper to be a "Metro" editor and also wrote the "Age of Riches" series. He was later lured to the "Culture" section by Sam Sifton, who was recently made food critic for the paper. "Eric basically lost his rabbi," said a co-worker. "He's a completely elegant writer ... People around here are in shock over it."
We'll keep you updated as we hear more names.
UPDATE: Times spokeswoman Diane McNulty, who is the honest sort, tells us: "The Times does not and will not discuss personnel matters, nor reveal any names or numbers relating to the current staff reduction. As a result, The Times cannot and will not comment on the list of specific names you have offered, except to say the list is in error." Meanwhile, we also hear that Styles editor Jennifer Kingson is out, as well.
Read more posts by Chris Rovzar
Filed Under: ink-stained wretches, allen salkin, eric konigsberg, media metamorphoses, new york times
Sen. Chuck Schumer is really, really sorry he called a US Airways flight attendant a "bitch" yesterday after she ordered him to turn off his cellphone before takeoff: "The senator made an off-the-cuff comment under his breath after the flight attendant walked away. He shouldn't have made it, he regrets it and he has apologized for it." [Fox5]
What? We didn't say "with each other."
[Via Guest of a Guest]
Read more posts by Jessica Pressler
Filed Under: the most important people in the world, donald trump, georgina chapman, harvey weinstein, melania trump
AP - Jon and Kate Gosselin will likely ring in the new year as husband and wife as they await a final divorce decree.
Contrary to appearances, Vogue is a hip magazine. At least, editor Anna Wintour keeps up with hot young things. She made sure to find out from her daughter Bee Shaffer which lady sings about kissing girls. She put Beyoncé on a cover — devoid of her most favorite sequins, sure, but still, she got a cover. And Lady Gaga appears in this month's issue, poking out of a wood-burning oven in a Hansel and Gretel–inspired spread. Grace Coddington tells the London Times that she had originally wanted a different diva for that part: Susan Boyle. However, Anna is just as up to speed with hot old things as she is hot young ones, and chose Gaga instead.
“Annie Leibovitz wanted her too,” says Coddington wistfully, “but I think Anna thought it was just all too British and not right.” Wintour raised Lady Gaga against Coddington’s SuBo. “I have to say I didn’t really know who Lady Gaga was. She turned up in a white rubber coat, stark naked underneath. No buttons, nothing — and completely you know, shaved, and this huge wig because she’s so insecure without it. But she was wonderful.” Hold on, Grace, you famously don’t like celebrities. “I don’t rule them out altogether if they’re the right person for the job. It’s because of characters like that that I still love my job”.
Yeah, SuBo would have arrived wearing undergarments. And putting her in the oven would have been so awkward. But you have to love that Grace, who is an expert on all that is cool and happening in fashion, is more familiar with Boyle than with Lady Gaga.
Grace Coddington: the Vogue visionary [Times UK]
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: saving grace, anna wintour, grace coddington, lady gaga, susan boyle, vogue
AP - The final chapter has been written for the lone bookstore on the streets of Laredo.
Behold, Unno Anatomic Underwear: The world’s first underwear specifically designed to increase the size of your crotch.
To prove the underwear’s bulge-swelling effectiveness, here’s a dude in Madrid modeling them in front of glass he cracked with his penis because it’s just too big to control now!!!!
It definitely seems like a product my friend would be interested in, but my friend’s a little worried about shattering glass with his d*ck everywhere he walks, so my friend wants to make sure that won’t be a problem if he orders them for himself — any answers, Unno?
More pics of the underwear in action, including an unnervingly captivated father-daughter combo, in the gallery below:
Last May, billionaire financier Steve Schwarzman made a $100 million donation to the New York Library. The gift, which followed more than a year of blistering press coverage (remember: never let a Journal reporter into your home and allow him/her to interview the household help!) wasn't without one big string: The library's Beaux-Arts main branch on 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue had to be renamed in the Blackstone Group co-founder's honor. It's been more than a year since then, but clearly some people have no intention of ever calling it the "Schwarzman Building."
Like the blogger behind Jeremiah's Vanishing New York:
I was confused recently when, planning to visit the NYPL Main Branch's Microforms collection, I looked up the building's hours online and couldn't find them--because the page kept giving the hours for the Steven Schwarzman Building and I kept looking for the words "Main Branch."
I will never call the Main Branch of the New York Public Library by its new name, the Steven Schwarzman Building. I will call it the Main Branch. Even when everyone else is running around saying, "Oh, did you see the show on 17th-century maps up at the Schwarzman?" I will be confused--"Where? At the what?"--even if I know perfectly well what they're talking about.
Sounds like an anti-Schwarzman demonstration outside the NYPL isn't out of the realm of possibility!
Main Branch [Jeremiah's Vanishing New York]
It was probably the poll that said that more people would vote for a generic Tea Party candidate than a generic Republican candidate that forced the RNC to make a serious effort to try and reel the ragtag group bank into the fold today. Hosting an event with tea and pizza, RNC Chair Michael Steele invoked the original Boston Tea Party, and promised to "stand in solidarity" with the tea partiers, not just on the issue of health care. "I salute you," Steele said. If that weren't enough, official GOP "tea bags" with the phrase "Listen to Me!" stapled on them were handed out, and Steele offered a "mea culpa" to the teabaggers. According to Talking Points Memo, he agreed with them that the party had abandoned its conservative principles. "We are moving back, head first, in that direction," he said. "Because that's where we should be." So, yes. These people are now running the show in the GOP. This will simultaneously please the tea partiers themselves — and also their elitist Democrat foes who think that by hitching their caboose to this crazy train, the Republican Party is steering itself toward doom. We have to say we, too, are delighted. Thinking back to all those boring, fakey hand-painted placards from the Republican National Convention last year, it's about time the GOP at least got some oomph back into their signage.
Michael Steele Brews A New GOP: The Party Of Tea [TPM DC]
Earlier: It Wasn't a Lovely Day for a Tea Party
Read more posts by Chris Rovzar
Filed Under: tea party, cop, early and often, michael steele, politics, republicans, rnc, teabaggers
Ana Lerario-Geller has the résumé we all wish we had: a few years at Marc Jacobs, some time spent working in cashmere, then launching her own line. Add in celebrity fans and a fashion marriage, and we're just green with envy. Lerario-Geller spent four years working for Marc, followed by a couple as head designer at TseSay, and then launched Lerario Beatriz for spring 2008. And already she has notable fans: Liv Tyler, Alexis Bledel, and Rachel Weiss wear her sexy yet sophisticated clothes. If you're curious about her last name, it's for that Robert Geller, the much-loved menswear designer. The two met when Robert was Ana's intern at Marc Jacobs, but didn't start dating until years later. "We definitely help each other a lot," she says. "We have similar aesthetics and share ideas and inspirations, which is amazing. And because we work in different markets, there is never competition between us." Her current collection, which is available at Edit, TG-170, and Mick Margo, ranges in prices from $230 (tops) to $880 at the highest end (jackets), and she's a featured designer on FadMashion.com. As for her future projects, Ana was a bit mum on the subject, but did hint that she'd love to start working in accessories. Judging by her clothes, that's something we can solidly get behind. Click ahead for a look at her spring collection, due to hit stores mid-January.
Read more posts by Amina Akhtar
Filed Under: talent scout, ana lerario-geller, designers, fadmashion, lerario beatriz, robert geller, slideshow
AP - Robin Thicke, "Sex Therapy" (Universal)
When people aren’t getting shot downstairs from BWE.tv Headquarters, they’re ~changing the world~. Sorry, did we say ~changing~? WE MEANT WASTING EVERYONE’S TIME.
That’s because it’s our First Official Jersey Shore Protest! Fellow VH1 blogger Rich Juzwiak was first on the scene at the protest, which featured a handful of unemployed residents of New Jersey waving around signs ranging from “Snookie is the Dark Lord” (how dare they?) to the more confusing “If All Jersey Girls are Sluts… Then the USA is Not in Debt.” It’s that exact kind of twisted logic that keeps us coming back to Jersey for more!
More ahead!
Head over to Rich’s site Fourfour for even more photos of the country’s most priority-jumbled New Jersians. Anyone who has time to protest something as pure as Jersey Shore doesn’t even deserve to call themselves a resident of the country’s most shamed states.
I’ve mostly tuned out the Daily Mail’s nonstop animal stories, because there’s three or four of them every day, and they’re usually not half as absurd or true as the headlines lead you to believe, plus how many wacky animal stories can you really take (it should be called the Daily Ani-Mail, you know what I mean??? You should know what I mean, it’s a very simple pun.)
It takes a uniquely absurd online animal story to cause my brain to use the necessary amount of time to process the information it’s reading, and that’s where this headline comes in…
…Lemmie get this straight, DAILY MAIL REPORTER: you’re saying that someone phoned the UK’s animal welfare service to report that a seagull appeared to be “sad” because it was sitting in the rain? Lemmie read the article:
RSPCA staff were stunned when a member of the public called their emergency line to say a seagull was looking sad because it was sitting in the rain.
Hm. So that’s exactly what you’re saying. Alright, Daily Mail, you win this round. You have officially gotten my attention with an amusing animal story that I will, in fact, pass along to my friends.
I would’ve preferred the following picture to be included in the story somewhere, but I’m not picky:
Alice Kim may have to spend her days wearing green scrubs (and a shower cap), but in her off hours, she's sporting designer labels galore. Her jacket is a really old Marc Jacobs denim one with scribbles on it, her shoes are Prada, and her jeans are from Trash & Vaudeville. She doesn't like to be too girlie, and cites a punk influence (just not in the O.R.). Find out more about her style by watching the video.
Read more posts by Jonah Green
Filed Under: video look book, alice kim, video
AP - Dan and Dean Caten are loving this moment in the limelight.
Sad day. Sad sad sad day. Hollywood’s most “WTF Seriously?” couple — the gorgeous Jake Gyllenhaal and the adorable Reese Witherspoon — have called it quits. Yup, that’s right. They are no longer dating, kissing, sleeping with each other, buying coffee together… you name it, it’s over.
So. I mean, not that it matters at all. But… (super high squeak voice) do any of you guys think that all those Ted Casablanca blind items might be about Jake? Look, it’s no big deal seriously. But pretty sure this break-up could only mean one thing…
JAKE GYLLENHAAL MIGHT BE TOOTHY TILE (allegedly).
If you’re not familiar with Toothy’s toothtacular antics via the mildly autistic Ted Casablanca, allow us to direct you to this website featuring all of Toothy’s items.
Alls you needs to know is: Toothy’s a hot actor who likes dudes. And at this point, Ted’s ruled just about everyone out except Jake. The story goes that his relationship with Reese was a put-on to promte their film Rendition, and all the while Jake has had a steady boyfriend. The break-up doesn’t try to quash those rumors one bit. The tooth is out there.
Then again, who gives a sh*t? Jake is hot, yes, and a nice guy no matter which way you tile it. Funny , sweet… frankly, we’d be surprised if he wasn’t G. Even his abs have jazz hands! Jake’s a catch, no matter which bathing suit area is holding the mitt.
And on a completely unrelated note, please click ahead to watch our #1 favorite Brokeback Mountain fan compilation, set to our #4 favorite love song.
Saks Fifth Avenue plans to lay off 116 staffers in the cosmetics and fragrance department by the end of January. Management says the decision is part of a larger plan to have each of the beauty counters hire its own employees, like 70 percent of the floor already does, including Clinique, Lancôme, and Chanel. The timing of this decision is somewhat suspicious, as it comes right when all the beauty-department workers had been petitioning to unionize. However, the retailer denies that this has anything to do with a potential union. [NYP]
Read more posts by Sharon Clott
Filed Under: the ugly truth, beauty, recession, saks fifth avenue
Italian Vanity Fair has the exclusive first look at Madonna's spring 2010 Dolce & Gabbana campaign, shot by Steven Klein. The designers say on their blog that the mood "isn't unlike a film from the days of Italian Neorealism." And, "Madonna herself recalls the strong, raw sensuality of the iconic actress Anna Magnani — showcasing when soft sensuality meets bold authenticity." The sensuality is evident in her ample cleavage, lack of severe eyeliner, and visible panting. But is "bold authenticity" supposed to refer to her washing dishes?
Photo: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana
Or perhaps eating pasta? Though there doesn't seem to be anything authentic about that, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana say this is Madonna at her truest self. Gabbana spoke to Vanity Fair about the campaign for a feature story:
When asked as to whether Madonna knows how to wash dishes, Stefano Gabbana replies "Certainly ... she's a very practical woman ... " And does she actually eat spaghetti despite her most enviable figure? "Of course," says Stefano, "and she can allow herself to with all the exercise she does!"
Madonna "practical"? Really? The woman who had supposedly never eaten a slice of New York pizza until last September when she went on Letterman and was essentially forced to eat a slice, which she refused to consume with cheese? The woman who goes to galas dressed like a drunk maid turned prostitute? Who plucks a hot model off a fashion shoot to keep as her boyfriend/pet just weeks after a divorce? Who travels to Malawi to adopt babies? Who has fewer wrinkles than a newborn and more muscle mass than the Williams sisters combined? But what do we know? Stefano dines and parties with her. Maybe when no cameras are around, she gets up and washes the dishes and Swiffers the floors before tucking in the kids and enjoying a nice slice of non-vegan chocolate torte when she has the house to herself.
Photo: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana
Or, you know, not.
Madonna in the Dolce & Gabbana campaign [Swide via Sassybella]
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: campaign trail, advertising, designers, dolce and gabbana, madonna, spring 2010
We wouldn’t be a comprehensive pop culture blog if we didn’t bring you this clip that’s been making the internet rounds today. It features everyone’s favorite real life Freaky Friday star Miley Cyrus encouraging her younger (we think) sister Noah Cyrus to sing the Akon song “Smack That,” replete with arm thrusts and, yes, actual child ass smacking. On the one hand, it’s disturbing to see a little billionaire dressed like the mother in Grey Gardens singing such a sexually suggestive song. On the other hand, she’s just being Noah y’all. Thankfully, there is no simulated oral/same-sex m-ing o, so the Disney machine can keep on truckin.
Good to know that Miley, who claims to have never heard a Jay-Z song despite what her hit “Party in the USA” might have you believe,
For comparison’s sake, we’ve posted the original NSFW song ahead replete with these lyrics:
Smack that, all on the floor
Smack that, give me some more
Smack that, till you get sore
Smack that, oooh
Tra Tutti sells mice doll incarnations of fashion people, including Anna Wintourmouse, Karl Lagermouse, and others. The Anna doll made us smile but it bears a severe failing: Anna does not carry a purse. Anna Wintourmouse, as you see, is clutching some giant mouse "it" bag to her chest. However the whole thing gives us an idea: an animated feature like Ratatouille but with mice doing fashion things, like going to Mice Fashion Week, instead of food things. [Tra Tutti]
Read more posts by Amy Odell
Filed Under: wintour wonderland, anna wintour
Here’s the poster for the upcoming Jennifer Aniston / Gerard Butler 2010 Oscar favorite, The Bounty Hunter.
I think mine makes more sense:
Several working titles for the film included “Sh*tty Ten Years Later Out Of Sight“ and “There Goes The Last Lingering Thread Of Gerard Butler’s Once Exorbitant Masculinity”.
Consider the race for the 2010 “Least Likely To Get Along Let Alone Fall In Love” Oscar already over.
Fashion Wire Daily - The star-studded cast and crew of "Nine" had plenty to celebrate at the glittery premiere held Tuesday, Dec. 15, in New York, for their flashy musical had just received five Golden Globe nominations that morning, and ten Critics' Choice nods the day before. So what better way to enjoy the moment than to bring the family along for the fun?
The United Arab Emirate known as Dubai announced last week that despite their 900 mile skyscrapers where you can high five an asteroid and forgetting for a moment that you can simultaneously ski down a snowy slope while making love to the sun, they are in debt for an estimated 80 to 100 billion dollars. To give you an idea of how much money that is, you could essentially bring 2 of the 4 Beatles back from the dead and play Rock Band with them for like 11 hours with that kind of money.
But instead of contacting Zimbabwe (where the 100 billion dollar bills flow like fermented adansonia juice), they’ve turned to their neighbors to help quash this debt. The generous folks over in Abu Dhabi spotted them a couple o’ billions as a good neighbor does, but their debt is still very much an issue.
So you would think the fine folks in Dubai would realize that maybe now isn’t the greatest time to flaunt their wealth. Well f**k that! That’s because the 2009 Dubai International Motor Show drove into town, and debt or no debt, even Howie Mandel’s tiny chin hairs would stand on their tiny, germ-free ends after checking out cars like these.
Like the above car, the BMW ‘M1 Hommage,’ a name we assume is an “hommage” to the days when “Dubai” had “money.” Well done. You can see all the other various unaffordable vehicles below. Good on Dubai, for not letting a little thing like billions of dollars or debt stop them from doing what they do best: Bust money on wildly extravagant unnecessary luxuries. Du-Bye for now.
Reuters - Mounir Moufarrige, president and chief executive of French fashion house Emanuel Ungaro, has resigned just over two months after a widely panned collection by American actress Lindsay Lohan.
A news report filed by ABC suggests that America as a nation is GOING BLIND. BLIND!!! Just like that horrible movie with Julianna Moore and Danny Glover!! BLINDNESS! Um, if you’re wondering why I’m using so many exclamation points it’s because — are you seriously asking that?! IN 100 YEARS YOUR GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN WON’T BE ABLE TO SEE.
And do you know who we are to blame for this 66 percent increase in blindness?
Just like that other movie. Where we were KILLED BY MACHINES. Oh, wait, sorry, there were four of those.
Yes, even THIS VERY BLOG in a way is contributing towards your blindness. Goddamn. This just got real heavy, man. Click below to watch the report while eating these.
Wonder if there’s any more Tiger newwwoooohhhh my GAWddDDDDDDdd this is never gonna end:
Wow, Lou Lumenick’s Avatar review! Did Tiger Woods have sex with him while he was watching the movie? Why would you do that, Tiger Woods?
I honestly can’t think of a recent story that the tabloids have just reveled in non-stop like a toddler in a Chuck E. Cheese ball pit more than this Tiger Woods thing. Not that any of it’s unexpected, but geez, even Michael Jackson’s death stopped being the NY Post cover story every single day two weeks after his death. This thing feels like it’s still just getting started.
At this point, Tiger’s gotta be praying for LeBron James to assassinate Obama; that’d at least take up, like, a corner of the cover next to the main story “TIGER HAS NOT TRAVELED BACK IN TIME AND MADE THE CHEATINGS NOT HAPPEN, HE STILL DID IT”.
AP - "The Shadows of Youth: The Remarkable Journey of the Civil Rights Generation," (Hill and Wang, 339 pages, $27), by Andrew B. Lewis: Even after nearly 50 years, the names bear repeating: Franklin McCain, David Richmond, Ezell Blair and Joseph McNeil.
AP - Susan Bullock makes an honorable assault on the impossible title role in the current Metropolitan Opera revival of Richard Strauss' "Elektra." But the real vocal thrills are provided by another soprano, Deborah Voigt, in a glorious return to one of her best roles as the heroine's sister, Chrysothemis.
Welcome to the world of the VIP host – also known as a concierge, marketing director, point person, or, depending on who you ask, celebrity pimp.
Nordegren will move out of the couple's Windemere, Florida mansion before Christmas.
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