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Saturday, November 14, 2009

Bruce Forsyth to miss Strictly Come Dancing

Bruce Forsyth will miss Strictly Come Dancing for the first time tomorrow night after battling a bad bout of flu.

The 81-year-old entertainer has never missed a show in the past five series of the BBC ballroom dancing series.

Claudia Winkleman, who presents It Takes Two, Strictly's spin- off show, will be stepping up to help Daly host Saturday's show, the BBC has announced.

Bruce Forsyth

BBC bosses are desperately trying to find someone who can replace Bruce Forsyth to co-host this weekend's show with Tess Daly

A BBC spokesman said: 'Tess Daly will be filling Bruce's shoes tonight on Strictly Come Dancing and Claudia Winkleman will be doing Tess's job backstage.'

Video: Ricky Groves speaks about Brucie's illness



Bosses had considered bringing in an outsider to help host the primetime show but felt Forsyth was irreplaceable, deciding instead to keep the programme in the hands of Strictly's regular presenting team.

Claudia Winkleman

Claudia Winkleman has been drafted in to help Tess on Saturday

The veteran television presenter is expected to be watching the show from home.

Tonight the BBC said viewers could expect a 'surprise' tomorrow night but refused to give anything away.

Forsyth is said to be recovering at his home in Virginia Water, Surrey, with his wife Wilnelia caring for him.

A BBC source said: 'Bruce has got the flu and will miss the show on doctor's orders.

Bruce has often told how he puts so much into the show that he is forced to spend Sundays in bed to recover.

Speaking just a week ago, he revealed how he has to force himself to rest, saying: 'I can’t stay asleep because the adrenalin of doing a live show is still pumping round my body.

'Last Sunday, for instance, I got up at 6am. I was hungry, as I never eat much when I’m doing the show, so I went downstairs, made my porridge and watched Match of the Day.

'I watched television until about 9.30am, then went back to bed for a few hours. I got up for lunch, then went back to bed after lunch and watched football and golf on TV. Then in the evening, I got up again for an hour and had a cup of tea.

'Then it was back to bed for a normal night’s sleep. That’s my routine while I’m doing Strictly and on Monday mornings, I'm as good as new.'

Alexandra Burke puts her never-ending legs on show at Christmas lights switch-on Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1227612/Alex

Alexandra Burke certainly knows how to please a crowd.

The X Factor winner dazzled during a live performance in a tiny little black dress which showed off her incredibly long legs.

She was in Manchester to turn on the city's Christmas lights - but despite plunging temperatures the singer braved the chill in the revealing outfit.

Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Burke

Alexandra Burke performed in Manchester last night in a little black dress before turning on the city's Christmas lights

While at the event she denied rumours she was planning to go on a date with Peter Andre, insisting the pair are just 'good friends'.

Speaking to Manchester's Key 103 radio DJs Mike Toolan and Chelsea Norris, Alexandra said: 'Don't believe what you read.

'When I got the call about that today I was half asleep and I was like whoah is this a dream, but yeah really don't believe what you read.

'No I'm not [going out with him], we're just good friends.'

Alexandra Burke

She denied rumours she was dating Peter Andre saying 'we're just good friends'

She also revealed that her New Year's resolution is to conquer America, saying: 'I'm going to work my bum off to do it this year.'

Alexandra also praised her former X Factor mentor Cheryl Cole, and said that she should also definitely have a crack at America too.

She added: 'She's done amazingly well, her album is to die for and have you seen her pictures? That woman is so hot, its a bit of a joke. I'm a bit jealous.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1227612/Alexandra-Burke.html#ixzz0WrbH3NMW

How the “new” news we read gets premanufactured in the newsroom

What makes our news? Photo by jk5854 on Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons.

Why do we read the news?

What are we looking for when, on a Sunday morning, we settle in with a copy of the Times or The Post or the Tribune?

It helps, first, to understand where the news comes from.

Newspapers are, at their core, papers with roots in a community that has boundaries. The fact that they own large buildings limits them to a region roughly as broad as the view from the top floor. The New York Times watches over metro New York, the Tribune stares across Illinois’ flat planes. Both hang over unflinching views only occluded by arbitrary impediments like smog, other buildings, a tight deadline or the curvature of the earth.

Inside each of these towers is the throbbing cerebrum of the News industry: the newsroom. The newsroom is the narrative version of a pharmaceutical company’s lab. It pumps out prescribed stories to different things that may as well be called capsules (Front Page news, Business news, Entertainment news, Culture news) for anyone in search of a fix. They’re color-coded (thanks to halftone CMYK printing) and childproof (approximately 8th grade reading level).

Like all labspace, the newsroom requires an enclosed area with ample room for the stories to blossom or coalesce into something serially reproducible. Labs are expensive and require everyday use to justify their cost. Here in the lab, the scientists of daily life pull stories from the collective ether that hangs inside, supersaturated and full of relevance, just above their newsdesks and heads. Stories are slated for production and distribution after experimentation and testing in the lab.

It also helps to know what makes the news.

The news story, like the pharmaceutical drug or the streamlined production of fast food, is composed with the delicate finesse of a chemist and the precision of industrial equipment. These two methods apply an equally objective rigor to the streamlined procedure of producing the story The stereotypical news chemist carefully mixes together crystalline xanthine alkaloids (caffeine) and reporting with elements like diction and structure to produce ‘all the news that’s fit to print.’

Then it gets put down on paper — low-cost paper called newsprint which, like many of the stories appearing on its pages, is subject to consumption, weathering, loss of relevance, and eventually decomposition shortly after leaving the assembly line. There is, in fact, an odd similarity between the hunt for efficiency hidden in the margins of the newspaper and BK’s quest for an ever-greater ability to churn out whoppers. So much so that volumetric boasts of newsprint whirring through the printer begin to suggest increased capacity of the MPB94

Then the news is sent to readers, already a little old and maybe a little soggy from it’s time beneath a heatlamp when it reaches those readers, who consume it like strawberries, or shoes, or a hamburger. With the same predictable regularity of its purpose for publication, newsprint becomes fertilizer, eventually providing the kind of hollow sweet taste to the tongue that it once gave the eyes one languid Sunday morning.

And now perhaps something about the news itself.

The impetus for any one of these stories is an oft-overlooked part of the story itself, as it may require hard thought, a real effort. Perhaps the kind of effort that would require a government to educate its citizens beyond an eighth-grade level, respond to the evaporation of hegemony (a word that somehow manages to sound new, some three thousand years late) and credit (a word that reminds us that “he or she believes”…but in what?). Maybe it’s the effort to build more than a hyper-focused nuclear moment of pause into our atomized days.

Exposure of a story’s origin, however, is also a danger: The explanation of a systemic cause might end up crippling the relevance of all this news. If we knew who wrote the Bible would it be as good? What would physicists do once they found out what’s up with the universe? Would we still recognize brands like Advil if a single ibuprofen indefinitely cured headaches? Would that encapsulated white powder ever have been as commercially attractive if it were a panacea?

All of this serves to underscore that the news is rarely new, just as the novel is no longer particularly novel. News is now an industry that strives to churn out the Most Important Stories at the fastest rate. Everyday stories deliver profits if they’re handled right, relevance has value that can be publicly traded, and the austerity of the impartial press is something subject to corporate oversight as just a thin branch in a fat conglomerate. (Ask Advance Publications about the performance of Conde Nast publications about the performance of their magazine The New Yorker about the performance of their fact-checking department which keeps the publication from slipping over the edge of relevance into the territory of fiction, that made up fantasy land of irrelevance…)

The New York Times counts the stories out in minutes, perhaps the Tribune tries to do it in seconds (to save their bankrupt ass), while somewhere on the outskirts of the blogosphere, the livebloggers and internauts are splitting the second to reconfigure life’s tick-tick-ticking atomic structure and bring us truly new news at the speed of reality itself. Maybe it’s all done so that no one notices the clock.

Is this treading water, progressing, or chasing our tail? Do I prefer the quick solution of the heartwarming tale to the reason such a story is so uncommon? Is that reasoning a little fuzzy?

Perhaps this is why we refer to the first instance of a story as “breaking news.” It is more important that one breaks news, that it is segmentable, that it is suitable for periodical publication than ensuring that the story is presented in its totality.

Entertainment News

David Beckham and Justin Timberlake met at the Lakers-Celtics game last night and I have to say, I would really love to get between that.

It seems kinda fitting that Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson are back together. I mean, who else would actually go for these two at this point? (CelebNewsWire)

Adriana Lima is going to say goodbye to her apparent viriginity now that she's about to marry Minnesota Timberwolf Marko Jaric. You know what this means? She'll stay married for a couple of years, until she decides that one type of penis for the rest of her life just ain't going to cut it. Then she'll pull a Jessica Simpson. (Egotastic)

James Bond says Amy Winehouse - 0, Leona Lewis, 1. Lewis has been chosen to perform the theme song for the upcoming Bond flick. I guess being a crackhead will do that to ya. (Jossip)
I'm surprised to hear that Edward Norton is acting like a spoiled little brat and is refusing to promote his new film The Incredible Hulk over money issues. But then, money is the stuff dreams are made of. (IDLYITW)

Jennifer Garner's 2-year-old daughter Violet locked her out of the car, which made for squeals of delight from inside the car. (CeleBitchy)

Cheryl Cole Voted FHM sexiest woman 2009

cheryl-coleFor us Cheryl admirers it’s never been in doubt but at last the guys at FHM have now made it official and given her the title she deserves, FHM world’s sexiest woman 2009.

The Girls Aloud stunner knocked last year’s winner, actress Megan Fox, into second place and gave the top spot to a Brit for the first time in three years.

Besides her smoking hot looks, what is it about Cheryl that makes her so special? FHM mentions about the beauty “With her flawless skin, high cheekbones, wafer-thin waist, perfect pins and criminally underexposed cleavage, it’s like God himself decided her native Newcastle was looking a bit dowdy, and needed a beacon of angel-like beauty at its centre. Add a dirty laugh and ability to repel Simon Cowell, and it’s no wonder that the 25-year-old has surpassed even the mighty Keeley Hazell as the UK’s sexiest female.”

Last years winner, the seriously gorgeous Megan Fox was pushed down into second place and actress Jessica came in third, followed by Britney Spears (where did she come from?) and our very own Page 3 stunner Keeley.

Jordan and Peter Andre Split

I really don’t like to admit it, but these two have actually grown on me since their ‘coming together’ in I’m a celebrity, get me out of here. Pin up favourite Jordan, and forgotten pop star Peter Andre met on the set of the ITV hit reality show five years ago and have hardly been out of the public eye ever since. jordan-in-the-jungleFormer ‘good time’ girl Jordan seemed to be changing her image from Party Girl to Perfect Wife & Mum, but recently the cracks have started to appear and she has slipped back to her old ways.

The move to separate and divorce appears to have been instigated by Peter, who has found it impossible to deal with the ‘boozy’ Jordan. He has told pals, “I have been so unhappy.” “I am not jealous of anybody until Katie is drunk. There’s nobody I feel threatened by when she’s sober. But if she’s drinking I know she is capable of anything. The devil gets insider her and she’s a nightmare. I trust her when she’s sober but I don’t trust her when she’s drinking.”

The news comes days after pictures were revealed showing a boozed up Jordan, snuggling up to a mystery man in a Bristol nightclub with her famous 32D assets on full display. The pictures were the “last straw” that made Peter Andre dump her. He said, “Katie has everything she could ever want – look at our beautiful children. She’s got a multi-million pound career and a dream home. But it’s like she is insistent on pressing the self destruct button”. “She is the most lovely woman when she is being herself and I will always love her. But in the end it all got too much to handle”. peter-andre1

Jordan is said to be devastated by the split and has issued a statement saying; “This is not what I want and the decision has been taken out of my hands. I will not comment further or do any interviews regarding the separation. But I will always love my Pete”. Yet only a few weeks ago, boozed up Katie was heard telling revellers in a nightclub that her marriage was over. She stunned the onlookers by flaunting her wedding ring and screaming: “This ring means NOTHING”.

Last night Peter arrived at the couples home in Woldingham, Surrey to find that Katie had fled abroad with their two young children, Junior age 3 and 21 month Princess Tiaamii. Katie had left her son Harvey with a nanny.

Odds were being offered by bookies of 2/1 that the celebrity couple would get back together again and 6/1 that they would renew their wedding vows for a glossy magazine.

Britain does have talent but it’s not Susan Boyle


susan-boyleWhat a huge relief, Susan Boyle didn’t win Britains Got Talent! Last Thursdays show proved that the great British public finally came to their senses and realised that Susan Boyle is nothing more than an average singer who had only got to the finals because Simon Cowell, the judges and the rest of the UK had sniggered when she first walked on the stage, and we then all felt sorry for her. But let’s not forget the show is about talent, not sympathy and although Ms Boyle clearly does have some talent, she really did not derserve her place in the final.

Piers Morgan said she is a global superstar. She is not, she is nothing more than an average woman with a great sob story while a superstar is someone like Shirley Bassey, Frank Sinatra or Madonna.

On the other hand, dance troupe Diversity who beat Susan Boyle into second place to win the worlds biggest talent show, thoroughly deserved their victory.
The ten-strong dance troupe from Essex and London worked incredibly hard throughout the competition and continually amazed and impressed at every stage. Their routines were original and flawless, but more importantly TALENTED!

Diversity’s choreographer Ashley Banjo was blown away by the result, told Ant and Dec, “When you said our name I thought I was dreaming. Everyone who has voted – you have changed our lives”.
The group have only been together since 2007 but with members aged 12-25 they blew the judges away with their incomparable ‘transformer’ dance routine.
Earlier this evening, Simon told them, “This is the only performance of the night, if we were giving marks, I would have given a ten. It was sheer and utter perfection.”

The group claimed the first prize cheque of £100,000 and will now go on to perform at the Royal Variety Show in front of the Queen. Well done lads, thoroughly deserved.

Jamal Palmer Named Harrisburg Horizon Head Coach


The Harrisburg Horizon today named former Horizon player and former Slippery Rock University Head Coach, Jamal Palmer, to be its Head Coach.

“We’re extremely pleased to have Jamal Palmer on board to guide our team for the upcoming season,” stated team owner, Dick Anzolut. “He brings us a wealth of playing and coaching experience and will be no stranger to our fans who have watched him play in Harrisburg since he first joined the Horizon in 2004.

Palmer, a native of Philadelphia and a graduate of West Catholic High School, played college basketball at Millersville University where he was named the 1998 PA State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Player of the Year.

After graduating from Millersville with a degree in social work in 1999, Palmer continued his playing career for four years at the professional level in England, Luxembourg and Finland. Following his only season playing for the Worthing Thunder in England, Palmer garnered MVP honors in the England Basketball League as a Forward / Center. Palmer followed that with Most Valuable Player honors in the Luxembourg Professional League.

Palmer returned to the U.S. in 2004 joined the coaching ranks as an assistant at Shippensburg University for two seasons before going to Slippery Rock as the Head Coach for the 2007-08 season.

Jamal was a standout on the Horizon front line as they claimed EBA Championships during his playing days of 2004-2008, His wife, Sasha, has been a member of the Lady Horizon since 2004, winning league MVP honors in 2006 and 2007.

Celebrity News Site LALATE Expands into Television: Previews New Celebrity Television News Program “The LALATE Minute” (Chris Brown, Zac Efron, Kim Ka

LALATE is coming to Television.

America’s fastest growing celebrity news website, LALATE NEWS (http://lalate.com/), has now expanded into international entertainment news broadcasting. LALATE today unveiled a preview of its new celebrity television news program called “The LALATE Minute” .

“The LALATE Minute” (http://news.lalate.com/lalatetv) is a 60 second entertainment news broadcast covering the world of celebrities reported direct from LALATE NEWS headquarters in Los Angeles.

The series preview features singer Chris Brown, movie actor Zac Efron, and reality TV star Kim Kardashian. The news program designed for worldwide viewers will cover celebrities recognized internationally with content written for fans of all ages.

The series is produced by LALATE NEWS - whose parent company TELEVISION INTNERNET was the first company to put television programming on the internet in the late 1990s delivering over 32 hours of internationally award nominated TV programming (“Muscle Beach”, “Sitcom a Sitcom”) - and from the family that delivered over eight decades of America’s most famous television programs including “All in the Family”, “The Carol Burnett Show”, “Maude”, “Sanford and Son”, and the “Jackie Gleason Show”.

New high-end device for networked home entertainment: TrekStor presents the MovieStation Antarius WLAN HD MediaPlayer



Lorsch, Germany, 11 May 2009
– TrekStor, the leading German manufacturer of external hard drives, USB sticks and high quality solutions in the home entertainment sector has announced the release of its first high-end product in the streaming client sector – the MovieStation Antarius – WLAN HD MediaPlayer. This new streaming client can be accessed by WLAN and Ethernet on an enabled folder of the home network and on the computer and displays the media data stored there on the television screen. The MovieStation Antarius can also play back music, photo and video data stored on USB data storage devices or memory cards on a television or stereo. Thanks to the HDMI™ (High Definition Multimedia Interface), standard video formats can be displayed in digital quality on the television screen, in HD resolution, and with sound. With its black shiny case, sophisticated aluminium design and high quality remote control, the MovieStation Antarius – WLAN HD MediaPlayer brings technical perfection and pure elegance into any living room. The new multi-media unit will be available from retailers and specialist dealers from 26 May 2009.

“We have increasingly worked on expanding and re-adjusting our product portfolio in the home entertainment sector over the last few months,” explains Daniel Szmigiel, Managing Director of TrekStor. “There is a distinct trend in the home entertainment sector towards extensively networking the living room with digital content and the world of the PC. With our new WLAN-enabled streaming client, the MovieStation Antarius, we are setting new standards by offering our customers a high quality eye-catching piece for networked entertainment with a particularly attractive price-performance ratio”.

The world of digital media displayed on the television in fantastic quality

Consumers want to watch MP3 files, videos, digital photos and DVDs from the comfort of their couch. But how? The new MovieStation Antarius – WLAN HD MediaPlayer multi-media unit obtains videos, photos or music in various ways; via the integrated memory card slot, via the two USB host ports by connecting a USB stick, hard drive, MP3 player or digital camera or by accessing the enabled folders of a computer or NAS (network attached storage) via the integrated WLAN and Ethernet connection.

Connecting via the HDMI™ means that videos can be transmitted directly in HD quality with a resolution of 1080i to a linked television. The MovieStation Antarius can play back HD films with the highest resolution currently possible – 1080p – making the HD MediaPlayer an ideal counterpart to the new HD flat-screen television. Even films in standard resolution (PAL) are automatically scaled to the selected HD output format. Thanks to the additional A/V connections, audio and video files can be transmitted to other output devices such as stereos or standard televisions.

Elegant design with the latest technology

The new MovieStation Antarius – WLAN HD MediaPlayer comes in an elegant black aluminium-design case and follows on from the successful TrekStor hard drive design range – the DataStation microdisk q.u and DataStation pocket q.ue. According to Daniel Szmigiel, the design and technology meet current customer requirements: “Even in the home entertainment sector, the design, colour, surface feel and overall composition of the device play a crucial role, in addition to the technology. Our customers don’t want a playback device in uniform grey – the MediaPlayer is part of the living room and as such needs to be presentable. This was very important to us when designing the MovieStation Antarius”.

The highlights of the new media unit
• Streaming client for the highest level of media entertainment
• HDMI™ output for the playback of films in HD quality
• WLAN connection for wireless access to the home network
• 2 hi-speed USB 2.0 host connections and card reader – films, images and music can be accessed from mobile data storage units and viewed directly on the television screen
• Movie and music player function and photo viewer
• High quality remote control

Technical details
The 189 mm x 189 mm x 27 mm MovieStation Antarius – WLAN HD MediaPlayer can access all the standard operating systems via Ethernet (10/100 MBit) and WLAN (IEEE 802.11 b/g) through a network share system. The player can access MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, AC3 and MP4 audio formats as well as JPEG and BMP image formats. The supported video container formats AVI, MKV, MPEG and MP4 can contain the video standards MPEG1, MPEG2 to MP@HL, MPEG4.2 SP/ASP (e.g. Xvid to 1080p). The card reader is designed to read the memory card formats SD, SDHC, MMC and MS.

Price, delivery and availability
The MovieStation Antarius – WLAN HD MediaPlayer will be available from retailers and specialist dealers at a recommended retail price of € 139 from 26 May 2009. Delivery includes an external WLAN antenna, remote control including battery, power pack, AV adapter cable (3x Cinch), SCART adapter, (3x Cinch on SCART-IN), user manual and a CD.

Trend Alert: High Buns


Stefanie Keenan/WireImage, Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Pull out your ruler and pencil sharpener, ladies — super-high buns are back.

Personally, I consider myself to be a low-bun kind of girl, but both Rachel Bilson's and Cameron Diaz's latest looks provide plenty of reasons to convert.

2009 Teen Choice Awards: Best Tressed

Posted by BeautyMaverick 08/10/09 11:38am GMT


Frank Micelotta/TCA 2009, Jason Merritt/Getty Images,

Loads of lust-worthy looks were on show at last night's Teen Choice Awards, with the likes of Cameron Diaz and Leighton Meester topping our Best Tressed list.

Six Degrees of Scarlet Lips


Kevin Winter/Getty Images

NEW Lookbook alert!

Head over to AllTheLooks.com to see which degree of ruby-red lip color suits you best.

Cameron Diaz's Latest Look: Love It or Hate It?


Gabriel Bouys/AFP

Cameron Diaz was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame earlier today, and chose a simple, side-parted style for the occasion.


STEELE DESTINY World Premiere

Well, it is official! The world Premiere of WolfePack Entertainment’s first ever feature length film will take place during the esteemed Screaming Tiki SuperCon in Niles, www.screamingtikicon.com , Ohio the weekend of November 13-15. The Screaming Tiki Supercon is a comics, toys and pop culture convention in its second year along with the historic Superman Themed event in Cleveland this summer (which WolfePack Entertainment did official video for) will feature tons of artists and vendors. Joining the celebrity guest list along with WolfePack Entertainment will be Dave Prowse (Darth Vader), Aaron Smolinski (young Superman) and Glenn Shadix (Mayor of Halloween Town). This is a huge event with tons planned so make the trek to Niles this November to check out all that is in store and support WolfePack Entertainment as we make history with the WORLD PREMIERE of STEELE DESTINY

WolfePack Entertainment offering new services


WolfePack Entertainment is proud to announce our new business venture. Do you have a special occassion that needs professionally filmed? Do you need dvds made of previous events such as weddings, graduations and birthday parties? Would you like to have custom videos or photos made of yourself or children as a superhero or with a celebrity as gifts? Well, WolfePack Entertainment is here to help as we can do all of these things and SO MUCH MORE! We will also be providing costumed characters such as Captain Jack Sparrow, Spider-Man, Superman and many others for parties.

We are dedicated to treating your videos as if they are our very own! We will handle each production with a personal and professional touch and attention to detail. Whether it’s a commercial, a wedding, or a seminar, we strive for both professionalism and perfection as we produce videos that will enhance your business or capture that once-in-a-lifetime event!

For more information feel free to contact us through email or simply call 1-765-469-0818

As always, we will bring you “Excellence in Entertainment”


This Beautiful Sacrifice joins WolfePack Entertainment


WolfePack Entertainment is pleased to announce our partnership with local Indiana “heavy metal” band THIS BEAUTIFUL SACRIFICE. This Beautiful Sacrifice is based out of Marion, IN and has teamed up with WolfePack Entertainment for our first feature length film STEELE DESTINY. This Beautiful Sacrifice will provide the complete soundtrack for the film. Check out their myspace page at www.myspace.com/thisbeautifulsacrifice and be sure to download some of their music. We will also be providing cd’s for purchase at the Screaming Tiki SuperCon (www.screamingtikicon.com) in Niles,OH November 13-15.



Off Shore Parks

WDW Hidden Treasures!
Disney-Fan-Reborn
is taking a family trip to Walt Disney World soon and would like to know where some of the lesser known attractions are. Like you have to know where to look or you would totally miss it. Stuff like that. Any ideas?

MiceChat
Forget the BBQ!

A close up look at some of the World of Color construction, Waffle Fries and Slush drinks, and we continue to celebrate the Haunted Mansion's 40th Birthday! ~ Aladdin

Sunday 8-16 Mini Photo Trip Report
ThrndkSpcl has a short but sweet photo report. Take a look at their trip here!

Indy & Animation Fun
OC2Epcot takes us to their favorite place in Disneyland and DCA - check these great photos!

Anyone else love the icy slush drinks in Fantasyland?
Victoria brings to our attention the flavored Slushie drinks available in Fantasyland (and a few other places throughout Disneyland). Have you tried these, and which is your favorite flavor! Let us know here!

The Disneyland Photoshop Competition - Round 20
In the 20th Photoshop Contest, opizzao wants you to take us to the Ariel's future home in DCA! Let's see your under the sea!

World of Color Fountain Test
Abominable Snowman located a couple of short videos of the World of Color show under construction! Take a look at these!

No More Waffle Fries?!!??
dfan07 asks about the disappearance of Waffle Fries from Taste Pilots Grill, in Condor Flats. Has eating here just become more ordinary?

Haunted Mansion Celebrates 40 Years of Happy Haunts!
Disneyland RR Guy directs us to a great video celebrating the Haunted Mansion's 40th Anniversary. Watch this!

Off Shore Parks

Welcome back to this week's Disneyland Rumors and Imagineering! A light section this week, however some really good ideas and an interesting rumor regarding an old Disneyland attraction! Please keep posting your ideas and rumors – we would love to see them here for the next Roundup! - Demigod

The house of the future is coming back!
MiceChat member micha_13 has information that a certain local power company might be bankrolling the return of The House of the Future.

DLR Water Park
MiceChatter Orcatime discusses possible options for a DLR Water Park.

New Concept for Screamin' (my thoughts)
disneyNEWdad offers some ideas on retheming DCA's California Screamin'.

I want to be an Imagineer

New MiceChatter kunai obviously wants to be an Imagineer, and has a couple of ideas to share.

Off Shore Parks

This week we have pictures aplenty from a California MiceChatter in Florida! We get the lowdown on the new, consolidated, FastPass system, an idea to connect the Parks, and a request for lesser-known WDW treasures. Also, some tales of upcoming good food and good wine! And a past tale of very very bad guest behavior...~ PEZZ

Splashmoun10's Awesome Photos for August 4th-11th, GREAT JOB! (8/4/09---8/11/09)
SplashMoun10 just got back from WDW with some incredible shots from all over the place! Take a look at his marvelous HiDef and panoramic photos! Marvel at the use of color, focus, backlight, and sometimes water! This is a trip report you won't want to miss!

Animal Kingdom Fastpass
Neon Cactus is curious about the newly installed FastPass station at Animal Kingdom. It has 3 FastPass machines in one place for your convenience. There are some replies and pictures to boot!

Adding a New Gate! (but not where you'd think)
Skprnck has a crazy idea about linking up the Animal Kingdom with the rest of the Parks - by monorail! Who ever thought it would be a good idea to use a monorail to go from one place to another? Crazy, I tell ya...

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Info!
Summer may be almost over, but SummerInFL never stops! She has the latest release on the Food and Wine Festival - which is always a delight! Who's going?
Invite me!

Man convicted of groping Minnie Mouse
Okay people. We all know how to conduct ourselves in the Parks. We all know what acceptable behavior is and what is simply NOT acceptable. OogieBoogie reports that, apparently, somebody did not get this memo and got himself into some trouble while at WDW. Somebody who should be old enough to know better. Somebody's grandfather. The Cast Members who make the magic happen don't always get the respect they deserve. And sometimes Guests get convicted of battery when they get out of line. Tsk-tsk!

Off Shore Parks

Our globetrotting MiceChatters bring back plenty of goodies from their summer vacations this week! See excellent photos and watch very fun video from across the seas. Also, how many Disney Parks can China hold? Maybe Hong Kong and Shanghai are just the beginning? ~ Pezz

Tokyo - Back from Tokyo!
Olivier is a French MiceChatter who had his first trip to TDL recently. His experience is very well detailed, with beautiful photos and candid comments. Take a look at this truly international encounter!

Tokyo - Check out my videos of Tokyo Disney Disneyland with 'Markie in Japan'
Marky4839 is a newer MiceChatter with a lot of video talent and some great footage to share from this trip to Japan. Check out his YouTube travelogue from all over the place, not just TDL. It's enough to make you say 'Arigato'!

Paris - Yes another trip report - picture heavy
What do you call a Disney fan in Canada? Mickey_Moose of course! This fantastic friend from the Great White North went to DLRP and has some awe-inspiring photos to show for it! Check out the dragon in the castle dungeon. That one will make your hair curl...

Paris - Disneyland Trip in May 2009

Keithlee83 is another international traveler. He is from Hong Kong and went to DLRP back in May. His stunning photographs are a feast for the eyes, so leave room for dessert!

Hong Kong - Shanghai Disney Park 'No Threat' says SH Official
Hkdlfan reports on the announcement that a leading tourism official in China says that three's company when it comes to Disney Parks. Shanghai Disney? Bring it on.

Off Shore Parks
Welcome to another week of seeing what's going on outside of the Disney Parks. I'd like to take a quick moment to tell my hubby I love him and celebrate a happy 14th wedding anniversary. But enough with the mush and on with the Other Parks section! ~ elly

Going Metro, Grauman's, and Guinea Pigs ... with a side of creatures.
TikiRoomLiz takes us along on a very busy day filled with the Metro Station, guinea pigs and fellow MiceChat members thrax and DisneyIPresume, and that's only the first part of this continuing trip report.

Camera + Water = Bad? Who Says? - Adventure Island Water Park 08/15
And from the other side of the states SummerInFL brings us a wet and wild trip report from Adventure Island Water Park in Tampa, Florida via photos from her new waterproof camera.

Proud Owner of a Brand New Camera
Any Nikon DSLR camera owners out there? sassy*tink has some questions for you.

Do you know of any good recipes that call for a LOT of parmesan cheese?
Princess Buttercup
has a lot of Parmesan cheese, any good recipes to use A LOT of it?

need support and prayers
Another story that touches the heart. Read the story that lou_mom has shared with us.

8/11: Kevin Yee - iphone World
Got an iphone? Looking for WDW apps? In this week's column, Kevin lets you know which are worth downloading. Discuss them all here...

8/13: Werner Weiss - Rockin The Bay
Join Werner as he takes you back to the Summer of 2002... Back when the Bay was rockin' to the sounds of the Beach Boys, The Temptations, The Commodores, and more! The only thing hotter than these classic bands was the audience. Were you there?

8/13: Kevin Yee - Chic or Cheap?
Last week, Disney threw open the doors to its newest Disney Vacation Club (DVC) property, the Bay Lake Tower. Is this new addition trendy or was it built on a budget? Or both? Let Kevin know your thoughts!

8/14: David Michael - In The Parks
This week marked return of the Southern California Annual Passholder to Disneyland. Read about the expected chaos plus news on the Summer Fun Pass, canoe races, hotel refurb, and more!

8/14: Sue Kruse - Pressing Matters
This week's column features a film festival, the latest from the Walt Disney Family Museum, and a much-loved actress you'll have a chance to meet.

8/15: Weekend Update
This week's outstanding collection of photos feature Tokyo Disneyland, Polynesian Resort, Signs of Disneyland Paris and more!

8/17: Andy Castro - Dateline Disneyland
Stroller Central, California Construction, Haunted Mansion Merch, Big Crowds, and more!

In Praise of Drive-Ins
Wotan
and his better half recently saw a movie at a drive-in. Whoa! Do you have any fond memories of drive-ins? Share your thoughts here.

Dancing with the stars Season 9 Celebrity dancers announced - 8/17
Hot off the presses, Darkbeer has information about the new season of 'Dancing with the Stars'.

Seven On Broadway
WickedScorp
just spent two weeks in NYC and saw seven theatrical productions. Read these amazing and detailed reviews and you might want to plan a trip too.

The MiceChat Official Country Music Fan Thread
Radiobarry
sends a call out for country music fans. It doesn't matter who you like--whether it's Reba or Rascal Flatts--dust off your cowboy hats and come on in!

1 vs 100 on XBL
This new game on XBox Live is based on the TV game show, '1 vs 100'. It sounds very creative in its execution of a live game show, complete with an online host and prizes. Maybe you'll even see Dustysage as one of the competitors.

Warner Bros.: No Script Or Casting Decided For Next 'Batman' Film

The Dark KnightHollywood bosses have stepped in to silence speculation about the next Batman movie - insisting there isn't even a script yet for the superhero sequel.

Rumors about the planned follow-up to The Dark Knight have been plentiful ever since the blockbuster hit cinemas in 2008.

Internet gossip sites have been rife with reports about the possible addition of feline femme fatale Catwoman to the next picture in Christopher Nolan's film franchise, with a British tabloid reporting over the weekend that Megan Fox is in negotiations to take the coveted role.

Angelina Jolie, Cher and Kate Beckinsale have also been linked to the part, while Shia LaBeouf, Johnny Depp and Eddie Murphy have also been in rumored negotiations concerning the picture.

Movie chiefs have confirmed they do want to shoot another Batman movie, but they are adamant the project is in the very early stages and producers haven't even discussed casting yet.

A representative for the Warner Bros. film studio tells People.com, "It's rumor. It's not true. There is no script. There is no project to be cast in."

See more photos of The Dark Knighthere!


The Dark Knight

The Fantastic Mr. Fox' Gets Voice Featurette and an Inside Look

'The Fantastic Mr. Fox' Gets Voice Featurette and an Inside Look
See larger image
"" is inching closer to its theatrical release date, and in anticipation of that, 20th Century Fox has brought out a brand new featurette and an inside look. The featurette comes out via Yahoo! Movies and takes a look at the unique recording process of the characters' voices. The inside look, in the meantime, revolves around as Badger.

"The Fantastic Mr. Fox" revolves around Mr. Fox who steals chickens, ducks, and turkeys from three mean, stinky and wealthy farmers, Boggis, Bunce and Bean, to feed his family. When the farmers had enough with his action, they are determined to kill him, endangering not only Mr. Fox's beloved family, but the whole animal community. Trapped underground and with not enough food to go around, he comes up with a plan. He gets the animals band together to fight back.

Based on the novel by author Roald Dahl, this animated feature comes from director/producer/writer Wes Anderson and animator Mark Gustafson. Scheduled to open the 53rd Times BFI London Film Festival on October 14, the movie is set to open wide in the U.S. November 13. Among those contributing for the characters


  • "Recording the Voices" Featurette:
  • Inside Look at Bill Murray as Badger:

Names Ken Baker Executive News Editor

kendkljfa.jpg
More on this breaking story. For now, here's the press release:

Baker Joins E! From Us Weekly, Where He Most Recently Served as Editorial Director for the Magazine's Web Site, Usmagazine.com

Los Angeles, CA, February 4, 2008 -- E! Entertainment, the global leader for entertainment and celebrity news, has hired industry news veteran Ken Baker as Executive News Editor. In this role, Baker is charged with obtaining and reporting entertainment and celebrity news and information for E!'s various news outlets, including E! News, Daily 10, Eonline and E! News Now. The announcement was made today by Jeff Shore, Senior Vice President, Production for E! and Suzanne Kolb, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Communications for E! and Style, to whom Baker will report.

"Ken's outstanding relationships within the entertainment industry and track record for exceptional reporting make him the perfect addition to our news organi

« Previous Post Next Post » All Posts Hammer finally drops on ‘Dollhouse’

0t1q07eUnsurprisingly, Fox has cancelled Joss Whedon’s sci-fi show Dollhouse. Looks like Whedon-fans can add another title to his resume of awesome-but-cancelled programs. The show has struggled in ratings since it began and this season has only been worse for the Eliza Dushku vehicle.

It was a shock to many that Fox even renewed it for a second season after cancelling Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Variety is reporting that the show is continuing to shoot the 11th episode and will finish out the 13 episode season.

I have to say that even though it’s not a surprise, it’s still a shame. The premise of a secret organization with the technology to program and erase human memories and personalities is an intriguing one. But the very hook of the show seems to have made it difficult for many people to get into. With a constantly changing personality, Dushku’s character Echo was tricky for viewers to embrace. And like so many genre shows, once continuity and the backstory start building up, anyone who does want to get into the show can feel lost unless they go back and watch all of the previous episodes. The casual fan is unlikely to do this, so once ratings start dropping it’s almost impossible to resurrect them.

While it certainly wasn’t his best work (Firefly/Serenity still holds that crown), it was an interesting and thought-provoking show. Even Whedon’s second-tier is still better than most of the junk on television, so I’ll certainly miss it. On the brighter side, he’s got some other projects in the works apparently. Over at Whedonesque.com he posted that we’ll know what the next project is by the time the final Dollhouse episode airs. So that’s something at least. Until then we’ve always got seasons 8/9 of Buffy to tide us over.

Archive for the ‘Weird Celeb News’ Category

Shakira pulled a ‘Just One of the Guys’ on the UCLA campus (sort of)

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Remember that cheesy gem from 1985 “Just One of the Guys?”

You know, the movie where a hot chick wants to be taken seriously as a “journalist” so she transfers high schools and poses as a guy to win a journalism contest.

Well, super hottie Shakira wanted to take a history class at UCLA so she pulled a similar trick. The pop star wore a baseball cap and carried a giant backpack fooling everyone into thinking she was just like the rest of us. Yahoo.com has the scoop.

But unlike the lead in “Just One of the Guys” Shakira didn’t full on dress like a boy, she hid under a baseball cap, yes, but used the name “Isabel” as her cover.

The singer’s caper was just close enough for us to draw a loose connection to “Just One of the Guys,” which stars the best 1980s high school villain ever William Zabka.

More importantly it gives us an excuse to display this video. It’s some of Zabka’s best work.

<a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=veHWkxRWSsw">http://youtube.com/watch?v=veHWkxRWSsw</a>

Seth Green mugging caught on tape

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

The hilarious and darling Seth Green was the victim of a mugging earlier this week.

Green was in a parking lot heading to a studio when two guys wrestled the star to the ground and grabbed a bag he was carrying.

The whole thing was caught on tape.

At first the interwebs were buzzing that the video was a hoax but Movieline is saying it was very real indeed.

A visibly shaken Green had an understandable freak out following the mugging which was also caught on tape.

You can see the video of the mugging and Green’s tirade at Movieline. Those who oppose foul language should not click on the link.

And now for another installment of … Weird Hollywood News Wednesday

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

Things seem wackier than usual in Hollywood. Here’s what’s happening among the who’s who in celebrity-land.

  • Actress MacKenzie Phillips shared with the world that she had a “longtime incestuous relationship with her father John Phillips,” the Los Angeles Times reports. Phillips opened up about the relationship in her new book.
  • While filming the big screen adaptation of the novel “Eat, Pray, Love” Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts and her crew angered Hindu worshippers by banning them from a temple during filming, according to the UK Telegraph.
  • Country singer Lucinda Williams married producer Tom Overby on stage before the encore of her first concert at a Minneapolis venue. [Via The AV Club]
  • Cher’s daughter Chastity Bono is documenting her sex change from a woman to a man in a memior, The Daily Dish reports.

How much is too much? Brad shares his and Angelina’s spot for love … yeah that kind

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

pitt.jpgBefore I go into my rant, I’d like to establish that I am a Brangelina fan.

Both of them are fine actors, and I love that they use their celebrity for the betterment of humanity … Their work in New Orleans … Jolie’s commitment to aiding refugees, her visit to wounded soldiers, and of course the fact that they have adopted children.

All of this is be commended. Good on them.

I do wish however that they will cease to discuss intimate details of their personal lives.

Really, no one and I mean no one needs to be informed that these two have a secret stone grotto where they do what grown ups do when they’re, you know, in love.

According to Us magazine, Pitt revealed this to Parade.

Then the actor told Extra, “Yeah, well, we got a few special places.”

Oh, for crying out loud!

Please entertainment media stop asking celebrities questions that no one wants to an answer too.

And please Brangelina, cram up. Don’t answer. Tell those nosey media types it’s none of their beeswax or whatever.

Mel Gibson to play opposite a hand puppet in Jodi Foster’s “The Beaver”

Friday, July 10th, 2009

foster.jpgmel-g.jpgOK, this is just weird.

Mel Gibson is set to star in Jodi Foster’s “The Beaver,” a movie about “a depressed man who finds solace in wearing a beaver hand-puppet,” according to Variety.

Foster will direct the film and also star the man’s wife.

What?

Marey Carey impersonates Eminem in new music video

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

eminem.jpgcarey.jpgUsually Eminem is the one doing the spoofing but songstress Marey Carey has turned the tables on the smart-mouthed rapper.

Carey dressed up like Eminem for her new music video ”Obsessed,” the New York Daily News reports. Carey, who was filming the video in New York, put on a gray hoodie, white sweatpants, a goatee and sideways baseball cap to impersonate the rapper.

The Daily News says Carey is “firing back” at Eminem for his song “Bagpipes from Baghad” in which the rapper disses Carey’s husband, Nick Cannon.

Getting into a battle of words with Eminem seems like a bad idea. If he decides to “fire back” at Carey, don’t expect it to be pretty.

Really, MTV? Really? The network plans “Teen Wolf” the series

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

teenwolf.jpg

Of all the terrible yet hilarious 80s movies to turn into a sitcom why did MTV have to pick “Teen Wolf?”

The series, Variety says, will have “a greater emphasis on romance, horror and werewolf mythology.”

Hmmm …. this is necessary because?

“Teen Wolf” did a disservice to the “werewolf mythology” and MTV will do a disservice to “Teen Wolf.”

So do the math: This idea equals stink bomb.

Or it could be so awful it wraps around to awesome! Once awhile that kind of magic exists in this world, my friends.

Remember “Big Wolf On Campus?” I had almost forgotten about that beautiful disaster until the AV Club’s, The Hater, blog reminded me of it. Good times.

The search for Megan Fox’s flower child is over

Friday, June 26th, 2009

fox.jpgRemember the sad boy who tried to give uber hottie Megan Fox a flower but was snubbed?

Fox felt just plain awful about the incident and said she wanted to apologize to the kid in person. A mad search for the boy began soon after. Kodak even offered a $5,000 reward for anyone who provided information on the kid’s whereabouts.

Well, Defamer is reporting the boy has been identified as Harvii, an 11-year-old Brit. Check out their column to see a screen grab of his Facebook page.

This kid is going to freak when Megan Fox talks to him. FREAK.

Weird Celebrity News Wednesday

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

This isn’t a normal feature. It just happens to be Wednesday and there seems to be plenty of oddball entertainment news for us to dish on. So join us won’t you for an installment of Weird Celebrity News Wednesday.

  • Facebook, the movie? Variety reports “Fight Club” director David Fincher is in talks to direct a film about “the evolution of Facebook from its 2004 creation on the Harvard campus by sophomore Mark Zuckerberg to a juggernaut with more than 200 million members.” The status updates better be topnotch or this movie will stink!
  • In “duh” news, super hottie Christian Bale was named the most “summer fling worthy celebrity” in a survey by MSN. I’m not sure why this was a survey but whatever Bale should win every year.
  • Actress Darryl Hannah was arrested in West Virginia in a mine protest, according to USA Today. I first misread that as “mime” protest which would have been really strange.
  • The beautiful Megan Fox apologized to a young fan who tried to give her a yellow rose after she snubbed him. Fox said she didn’t see the boy. Watch her heartfelt apology here. Update: Defamer is reporting Kodak has offered a $5,000 reward to person who identifies the boy. Fox said she wants to apologize to him in person. If this kid is smart, he’ll turn himself in.
  • Jessica Simpson is returning to reality TV. There’s nothing odd about that on the surface but the show will follow Simpson as she travels “the globe talking to everyday women about the lengths they go for beauty, while investigating — and even participating in — some of their dietary fads, beauty regimens and apparel,” People magazine reports. Pointless much?
  • “View” co-host Elisabeth Hassellbeck is being sued for plagiarism.
  • And then there’s this … Scenes from Tim Burton’s “Wonderland.” Behold Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. Eeeeee …

mad.jpg

BuzzFeed introduces us to ‘The 30 Worst Celebrity Impersonators’

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Those wonderful viral junkies at BuzzFeed scoured the Internets to find the world’s worst celebrity impersonators.

**Warning about the above link. Some of the material on the Web site is not for the easily offended. Please don’t click on it, if you fall into this category.**

Back to the list. Oh, what an awesome list it is!

The Web site hit the mark.

These “celebrity impersonators” are the worst I’ve ever seen. Ever.

It’s like they’re not even trying or in some cases trying WAY too hard.

Take for example “Brad & Jen

buzz.jpg

I’m guessing this is supposed to be Brad Pitt and ex-wife Jennifer Aniston.

Sigh.

Did Carradine die at the hand of a devious Kung Fu sect?

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

carradine2.jpgLegendary actor David Carradine died under mysterious circumstances last week when his body was found hanging in a Bangkok hotel room.

Family members and friends say the 72-year-old actor, who was enjoying a boost in his career, would have never committed suicide. There are other more salacious theories surrounding the cause of death.

But the family’s lawyer has told the New York Post that Carradine was “silenced” by “a secret sect of kung fu assassins.”

Yeah. Just like in the movies.

‘I’m not a reality star. I’m on ‘The Hills.’

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

heidi_spencer.jpgI totally spaced and missed the premiere of “I’m a Celebrity … Get me Outta Here.”

Lucky for me, Defamer, filled us all in on what happens when a group of celebrities get dropped off in the middle of the Costa Rican jungle and start getting real.

After reading the pop blog’s roundup, I’m not sure I’ll be tuning in since Heidi and Spencer have left the show!!!

Spedi were my biggest reason for wanting to see this disaster in the first place. Sure, Sanjaya has a certain allure but nothing the likes of Heidi, Spencer, and as “The Soup” says, and Spencer’s “creepy flesh-colored beard.”

You’ll just never know what those two kooky kids will say.

The couple proved its worth by storming off the show. Before they left the jungle for the glitz of L.A., Spencer is quoted as saying, “If you give me a script, I’ll do what you want. I’m not a reality star. I’m on ‘The Hills.’”

So he’s admitting to “acting” on “The Hills” then?

Keifer Sutherland headbutts fashion designer; has some explaining to do

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

Geez, Keifer Sutherland overreact much?

The “24″ star has been accused of headbutting top fashion designer Jack McCollough following the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute gala, according to the Star Ledger.

Sutherland says he was trying to help Brooke Shields who was shoved by McCollough.

But a rep for Shields is singing a different tune. The actress’s rep tells EW “nothing happened” to Sheilds and that McCollough “did nothing inappropriate.”

There are so many unanswered questions here.

How does this effect Sutherland’s probation in L.A. for DUI?

Why would Southerland get so mad at a fashion designer that he would heatbutt the man?

Is this the face of a man who would shove Brooke Shields or any other lady? jack.jpg

Why wouldn’t Sutherland think Shields could fend for herself?

Especially, against this guy.

Nothing against him. It’s just that she’s at least 6 feet tall and in great shape. In a fight between Sutherland, McCollough and Shields our money is on Brooke.

Octomom vs. Blagojevich vie for most annoying “celeb”

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

Today I’ve been trying to decide which of these newsmakers gets on my nerves more: disgraced, blago.jpgimpeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich or Nadya “Octomom” Suleman. OK, I didn’t spend that much time pondering this. But whenever I see some news item about them, I just want to turn away, like when you hear a really bad song on the radio, prompting you to skip to the next station. So today, when I heard that
a) Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants to star on the NBC reality show “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!” (According to the Associated Press)
andnadya-suleman.jpg
b) Nadya Suleman wants to trademark her media nickname “Octomom” for — get this — a line of baby goods. (According to US Weekly, which cited The Smoking Gun.)

I had to shout: Really? Really!? Why are these people still in the news? (At this point, I will channel Amy Poehler and Seth Myers from “Saturday Night Live,” who express indignation and outrage very well with their “Really?” sketches.)

Why are tabloids following Suleman around like she’s Angelina Jolie, or Madonna, or even Lindsay Lohan (who also is about to make my list.)? She’s not. She should be raising her 14 children, instead of shopping around reality shows. Hey, I get that the woman needs money, and I’m sure some of this attention is unwarranted. (She shields her face from the cameras, so she must not like attention.) But then she goes on Dr. Phil. And is a reality show the way to go? Is capitalizing on a media nickname — a somewhat negative one at that– going to help her? I know I wouldn’t want to watch her TV show.

As for the former governor, he is the rare fallen politician that won’t retreat from the limelight. No, instead, he is OK going on a reality show that will certainly do little to repair his rep. (Dude, only “Dancing With the Stars” can help in that department.) He also is apparently working on a “political memoir of sorts,” which I’m sure will describe his illustrious rise to fame and his very sad fall. So sad.

What I’d like for these two to do is to quietly go about their business away from photographers, video cameras and the media. We certainly have plenty of other stuff to focus on right now.

What do you think? Are they getting on your last nerve? Who is on your Annoying List? Weigh in here.

The celebrity feud no one saw coming. Jamie Foxx against Miley Cyrus

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

jaimefoxx.jpgThis is too random to comprehend but we’ll give it a try.

Actor/singer/comedian/Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx tore into actress/singer/teen sensation Miley Cyrus on his Sirius satellite radio show over the weekend for no apparant reason.

He and his radio crew made fun of Miley’s smile saying “she had more gums than teeth.” Oh, it gets much worse. They told her to catch an STD and do drugs like Britney and Lindsay.

BuzzFeed has audio but don’t listen if you are offended by bad langauge and/or a group of adults harshly making fun of a teenage girl.

But why are you being so hostile Jamie Foxx?

Turns out Foxx didn’t like comments little Miley made when the band Radiohead rejected her offer to meet them backstage after the Grammys. The teen star jokingly said she’d “crush” the group. miley-cyrus.jpg

But what’s it to Jamie Foxx?

Who at first pretended he didn’t know who Miley was before saying “The one with all the gums. She need to get a gum transplant!”

Oh, ouch! It’s not becoming of a 41-year-old man to poke fun of a 16-year-old girl.

That’s probably why Foxx apologized on the “Jay Leno Show.”

Billy Bob Thornton doesn’t take kindly to answering interview questions

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

billy_bob_thornton22.jpgBy now you’ve probably heard of the bizarre interview Billy Bob Thornton gave to CBC.

Thornton appeared on the radio show to promote his band The Boxmasters who are touring with Willie Nelson. Thornton gets hostile when the interviewer mention’s his acting career.

It’s understandable that Thornton wants to separate his music career from his acting but it’s ridiculous for him to get upset when an interviewer attempts to bring context to the discussion.

Thornton seethed with contempt during most of the interview avoiding simple questions. Case in point: He answered the question “You guys formed in the last year right?” with “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Were this a court hearing, Thornton would be classified as a “hostile witness.”

I don’t know how the interviewer could have made that question any clearer. The interview gets even more painful after that. Credit goes to the interviewer for being gracious.

News about Thornton’s interview has spawned headlines such as “Billy Bob Thornton gets weird.” I don’t know what they mean by that. Seriously, Thornton, though brilliant, has always been weird.

Consider that he has admitted to being fearful of antiques.

“I don’t have a phobia about American antiques, it’s mostly French,” Thornton told The Independent in 2004. “You know, like the big, old, gold-carved chairs with the velvet cushions. The Louis XIV type. That’s what creeps me out. I can spot the imitation antiques a mile off. They have a different vibe. Not as much dust.”

We rest our case.

Random tidbits from this week’s entertainment news

Friday, March 20th, 2009
  • Grey’s Anatomy: The Video Game” was released this month. You can play your favorite character performing surgeries and breaking hearts or whatever happens on that show. I don’t know. I don’t watch it. I also don’t understand why anyone thought this was a good idea.
  • MTV gets back at bullies in a new series “Bully Beatdown.” The show pits real-life bullies in the ring with an ultimate fighter. Now that’s how you make good reality TV. The premiere is Sunday at 9:30 p.m.
  • Speaking of violence, the British don’t like pretend gun play as much as we do. A trailer for Angelina Jolie’s film “Wanted” was been ordered off UK television for being too violent.
  • Occasional actress Lindsay Lohan launched a self tanning line. La Lohan has also reportedly turned to the Baldwin family for help.
  • On a sad note, we’d like to share our condolences in the untimely death of the beautiful and talented Natasha Richardson. Our hearts go out to her family.

Camping across America with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

tomcat.jpgSuperstars Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are planning a camping trip across this great wide open country of ours.

The UK Mirror reports the family will keep security near their campsites and bring “a friend from the church of Scientology, as Tom never likes to be too far away from his religion.”

This is a great idea! First, it’s really sweet the couple want little Suri to be exposed to the same activities as us mortals. (I mean that actually). Second, their adventures in the wild would make an awesome reality show. Pay attention A&E and TLC television show producers. There’s gold in this notion.

I for one would tune in each week to see …

  • Tom and Katie stake a tent. Week after week, we’d watch them wrestle tent poles into submission. Downside: The “help” sets up the tent for them.
  • Tom and Katie build a campfire. Hilarity ensues as Tom rubs two sticks together to spark a flame. Downside: Tom used to be a Boy Scout and could build a campfire in the rain using toothpicks. On second thought, that might be cool.
  • Tom and Katie tell spooky camp fire stories. Downside: All the stories end with the great Xenu saving the day.
  • Tom and Katie make S’mores. Downside: This is only funny if they roast marshmallows while wearing Snuggies.

Michael Jackson presents “This is it”

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

michael-jackson-prozess.jpgYou’re in luck Jacko fans!

Michael Jackson is going on tour this summer.

The King of Pop held a press conference today complete with loads of screaming fans and lots of odd poses.

Billboard broke the news and CNN showed the conference live.

Nothing is normal when comes to Jackson. Even the press conference was weird.

The show in London will be his last, he says. Hence the name “This is it.” And he means it, too, he says. This really is it. No more. He’s done.

Let’s hope so because seeing Jackson today made me want to cry. I was a huge fan back in the day when MTV had “Billy Jean” and “Beat it” on repeat.

He was magical even into the 90s with “Bad.” And we all know what had happened after that. He got weird. Really, really weird.

It would have been better had he slipped quietly into retirement. Poof. Leaving us with the man he used to be. We can only dream.

The Winslet winning gene and other random celebrity ramblings

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

winslet.jpgActress Kate Winslet isn’t the only award winner in her family. Britian’s The Sun is reporting Winslet’s “mum” Sally has been crowned Queen of the Shallots. She’s won the the pickled onion contest at her local pub for three years. Right, oh, Sally!

lohan.jpg

Lindsay Lohan ate a Big Mac, US magazine reports. Why would anyone want to know that? Well, it appears that people are concerned over La Lohan’s sudden weight loss, which the actress tells US is unintentional. In other random Lindsay news, she wore a security tag attached to one of her dresses. May be she planned to return it?

rogan.jpgActor, screenwriter and all around funny dude Seth Rogan will become only the ninth man in Playboy’s 56-year history to appear on the magazine’s cover, The New York Post says. Rogan will appear in the March issue. See it really is about the articles!

Everything must go! Michael Jackson liquidates Neverland

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009

billie-jean-jackson.jpgCount your savings folks.

Come April, Michael Jackson will sell off more than 2,000 items from his Neverland Ranch at a five-day public auction at the Los Angeles’ Beverly Hilton hotel, according to news reports.

Among the memoriblia up for sale are the white glove from his “Billie Jean” video, oil paintings, a pair of rhinestone socks and a robotic Jack-O head from his 1988 film “Moonwalker,” reports say.

The UK Guardian has a slide show of the possessions going on the auction block.

It’s easy to forget how huge Jackson was back in the day. I always get a little sad when I think about what he’s become.

Is Joaquin Phoenix just messing with us?

Friday, January 30th, 2009

jp.jpgSpeculation over whether Joaquin Phoenix really quit his day job to become a rapstar has the entertainment world buzzing.

A video of a scruffy Phoenix debuting his material before a live audience made the rounds on blogs and news sites. ABC news did a feature questioning if the whole thing is a hoax.

But in a statement to MTV his rep said the actor is serious about this new endeavor. The following quote appears at the end of the ABC story.

The transition from one career to another is never seamless. It should come as no surprise to anyone that Joaquin came from a musical family, in addition to winning a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Johnny Cash. He intends on exploring his musical interests despite speculative, negative or positive reactions.

So it’s real?

Would you buy ScarJo’s snotty tissue?

Friday, December 19th, 2008

scarjo3.jpgActress Scarlett Johnasson is selling her snotty tissue on ebay. It’s for charity, of course. She blew into the tissue on the Jay Leno show, stuffed it in a plastic bag and put it up for auction on ebay.

As of 10:13 a.m. Friday, the bid was at $2,205. Thankfully, the money is going to charity because otherwise I couldn’t think of a bigger waste of money. Nothing against ScarJo. She’s a pure beauty and seems very sweet but I don’t want to own anyone’s snotty tissue.

And when I say no one. I mean no one.

You, however, might feel otherwise so have fun with that.

Photo credit: It was posted on ebay by George.

Ashley Simpson climbs aboard the oddball baby name train

Friday, November 21st, 2008

ashley-pete.jpgPop singer Ashlee Simpson Wentz and her husband pop rocker Pete Wentz had a baby boy Thursday.

The couple did the Hollywood thing by giving the child an off-the-wall name. So dear readers please meet little Bronx Mowgli Wentz. With a name like that he’s sure to become a blues man.

According to E!, the little guy weighed in at 7 pounds, 11 ounces.

We’re sure he’s cute as can be. His name, however, is another story.

Why do celebrities insist on naming their children Apple and Shiloh, Suri and Pilot Inspektor?

I’m not one to talk. My parents named me, Amneris, but I forgave them once I learned Amneris was an Egyptian princess in Verdi’s opera “Aida.”

Still, being named Veronica or Audrey would have made introductions much easier. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had the following conversation.

“What’s your name again?”

“Amneris”

“That’s your first name?”

“Yes”

Sigh

Now, imagine having to introduce yourself as Pilot Inspektor. Yikees! Jason Lee really didn’t think that one through.

Cracked.com has this list of the 20 Most Bizarre Celebrity Baby Names. I’m not sure that little Bronx’s name is weird enough to make the cut. But just wait til you read number one. You won’t believe it.

The dark side of fame

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

abdul.jpgTragedy landed at Paula Abdul’s doorstep this week when an obsessed fan did the unthinkable.

The fan, who may have been stalking the “American Idol” judge, was found dead outside of Abdul’s home of an apparent suicide. Los Angeles Police found CDs and pictures of Abdul in the woman’s car.

Reporters later learned the woman was a former contestant on the FOX reality singing competition who in her audition tape revealed her hobby was drawing life-sized pictures of Abdul.

In retrospect the footage is eerie and heartbreaking.

How sad for this woman’s family and for Abdul who has been struck by the dark side of fame.

Celebrity stalkers can pose a threat to the stars they admire. In the most extreme cases, stars have been killed by their “number one fans.”

It’s a dangerous side effect of living in the public eye.

See a list of the more infamous celebrity stalkers after the jump.

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Joaquin Phoenix walks away from acting

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

joaquin-phoenix.jpg Twice Oscar-nominated movie star Joaquin Phoenix says he plans to stop acting.

Say wha?

According to a story in the Guardian, Phoenix told “Extra” he is going to retire from acting to pursue a music career.

This makes me a little sad. I’ve been a fan of Phoenix since “Space Camp.”

Why is it all or nothing with some folks?

Think of all the actors who have done both!

Not always successfully, (Eddie Murphy), but still they didn’t just up and quit.

Come on, Joaquin. Don’t go!

His announcement got us thinking about some of the actors who have made the leap into the music. See a partial list after the jump.

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Weird Celebrity Wenesday

Wednesday, September 24th, 2008

This isn’t a new feature so much as it’s just an odd day for celebrity news. To hardly anyone’s surprise Clay Aiken opened up about his sexuality as did La Lohan (sort of).

And I never thought I’d see the day I’d find Brad Pitt unattractive. Yet, here it is.

PopSugar has pictures of Pitt “wearing yellow terry cloth on the set of a Japanese cell phone commercial in France.” It’s all very international and not at all flattering. He looks like the Man with the Yellow Hat from “Curious George.”

pitt.jpg

Wait. There’s more … Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow has launched a lifestyle Web site with an unfortunate name. It’s called Goop. Hair product jokes aside, the site has a slick look and as the Huffington Post reports the “website includes a newsletter signup and a first person essay from Paltrow, a married mother of two, about what matters to her. It also features yet-to-be-filled sections called ‘Make,’ ‘Go,’ ‘Get,’ ‘Do,’ Be,’ and ‘See.’ ”