Playing the Blame Game...

Thursday, March 31, 2005

...for censorship...

Chris Rock is blaming Janet Jackson for the "current atmosphere of censorship."

That's unfair to Janet. Her "wardrobe malfunction" was nothing more than the straw that broke the camel's back. It's not like the camel wasn't sagging under the weight already.

Bottom line: Network television has steadily pushed the boundaries of what it considers acceptable over the public airwaves to rising opposition from parents for years. At some point it was going to come to a head: if you push someone hard enough, eventually they're going to push back. That's what has happened, and the "wardrobe malfunction" was the excuse to start pushing back - but it certainly wasn't the cause.

Is It a Question of Property Values...

...or ego?

Evidently David Duchovny and his wife, Tea Leoni, are thinking about leaving Malibu because Britney Spears has moved in.

David's upset because he had his picture taken by paparazzi waiting for Britney. If that's the extent of the problem, then the real problem seems to be that he was upset because he was an after-thought for the paparazzi rather than their primary target.

There are plenty of famous people living in Malibu, and I've no doubt that the paparazzi are hardly an endangered species in those parts whether Britney is there or not. If he doesn't like paparazzi, why move to such an obvious magnet location like Malibu? This isn't any reflection on Britney, just sour grapes...

Grey's Anatomy Off to a Strong Start...

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

...in the weekly ratings war.

I got a chance to catch the new show featuring an ensemble cast including Katherine Heigl and Sandra Oh. It was engaging. It takes a twist on the standard medical drama by telling its story through the interns' perspective. It made for a slightly younger and hipper ER.

It's definitely worth tuning in and making your own decision about it, but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised...

Keep Your Eyes On...

Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon...

This Haitian beauty is playing Nora Gage on ABC's new detective show, Eyes which follows Jennifer Garner's Alias. Reading through the article, it seems that Ms. Beauvais-Nilon has the tools necessary to become a Hollywood star.

We'll be keeping our eyes on this one....

Sweet Charity to Open..

...with Christina Applegate

After having originally cancelled its Broadway run, Sweet Charity will now open on May 4th with Christina Applegate playing the starring role of Charity Hope Valentine - a far cry from her role as Kelly Bundy on Married With Children.

According to the article, Christina's personal appeals to the producer are one of the key reasons for the change in plans.

This is an important step toward more people respecting her as a "serious" actress. Being able to say she starred on Broadway will definitely be a shining spot on her resume.

Madonna Offending Catholics....

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

again...

Thought #1: Why do practicing Catholics even pay attention to Madonna's ongoing efforts to tweak them after 20+ years? You know she's going to do it. You know she's doing it because she loves your infuriated reaction and to put her name in the headlines.

Why respond? It seems to me if you really want her to stop tweaking Catholics, then the most intelligent response when asked for comment about her latest anti-Catholic behavior is "Madonna Who?"

Thought #2: What was the point of wearing the Catholic get-ups at a Jewish celebration? There's obviously much more to it than her people are admitting: they were being deliberately provocative. OK. But to what end? Other than purposely offending many Catholics whom she's never met, was there a significant statement being made that would have given the offense a purpose? In my opinion, a better choice could have been made: giving purposeless offense isn't trendy or hot...it's just mean...

The Missing Red Bracelet...

on Ashton Kutcher's wrist

Evidently Ashton Kutcher has taken to wearing the red Kabbalah bracelet first popularized by Madonna and also worn by his girlfriend, Demi Moore, does.

The makers of his new movie, Guess Who had to spend $100,000 to digitally erase the bracelet from his wrist throughout the movie because it annoyed test audiences.

I have to say that unless Ashton's character was supposed to follow Kabbalah and it was appropriate to the story, it didn't belong on his wrist in the first place. Either Ashton should have agreed not to wear it, or the producers should have budgeted from the beginning to have the digital erasure done. It's about the movie-making, not about making personal religious statements...

Thanks, Mom!

...for buying 5.5 million Rascal Flatts albums

That was Jay DeMarcus' joke at the celebration for Rascal Flatts on the occasion of the group having sold 6 million albums.

6 million albums is nothing to sneeze at for sure, but we're also equally sure that it's just a start for this group that has produced such country hits as "Mr. Mom" and "This Everyday Love."

Congrats to the guys of Rascal Flatts on the achievement, and we're looking forward to being invited to the party when they've sold 12 million. ::cough, cough:: ::hint, hint::

Older Women Need Not Apply...

Monday, March 28, 2005

according to Rosanna Arquette...

Oh the irony of it all...Rosanna Arquette is apparently upset that Hollywood caters to "the sexual desires of men." Was this a sudden revelation or has she been studying the subject for some time?

I find it interesting that the very women whose careers once benefitted from being young and attractive women once are suddenly upset to find out that Hollywood prefers young and attractive women. The roles they once played when they were in their 20's are suddenly going to other actresses who are still in their 20's. Shocker! Stop the presses!

I'm sure it's tough aging in such a superficial town as Hollywood, but it shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone that this is the way the town works, and complaining about something after you've spent the last couple of decades benefitting from exactly what you're complaining about just reeks of hypocrisy to me...

EW Gives Closer a 'B'

'Closer' oozes intensity

Not knowing much more about Closer than:

1. It has a star-studded cast: Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, and Clive Owen.

2. It features Natalie Portman as a stripper. Now I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure this is going to be your only shot at Natalie Portman starring as a stripper so that puts this movie on the short list right there.

3. I'm generally not a big fan of adjusting my movie viewing based on magazine or newspaper reviews as I find that my favorite movies are often very poorly reviewed, and I absolutely hate some of the best reviewed movies. As a result, a 'B' review is neither a positive or a negative for me. But the review hits some worthy highlights that do pique my interest about the movie, so I'm likely to end up seeing it. What do you think?

And Baby Makes Three...

for Monica Potter and Chris Allison...

Congratulations to Monica Potter and her fiance! This will be Monica's third child, but her first with Chris Allison.

Rosie Loses Control

when she's laughing...

I have to be honest here: I think Rosie O'Donnell has lost her mind. A few days ago, she took a couple of cheap shots at Kirstie Alley. Why? Who knows what makes her tick these days?

There was a time when she was America's favorite funny lady, but now I have nothing but pity for her. She's been reduced to incoherent ramblings on her website about other celebrities and telling her fans about her bladder control issues.

Hopefully it's something that she can seek help for or work her way through. Watching someone taking such a severe career nosedive isn't any fun...

Ben Behind the Camera

...Disney's Gone, Baby, Gone.

As the article points out, Ben Affleck's career hasn't exactly been stellar of late. But as it also points out, he and Matt Damon won a Best Screenplay Oscar for Good Will Hunting.

Since Gone, Baby, Gone is also his screenplay, we're hoping for Ben's sake that going behind the camera will bring a change in fortune with it...

Sexual Harassment at Maverick?

Sunday, March 27, 2005

Ex-worker sues Madonna, claims harassment...

Not to be toooo flip about it, but let's be honest: if you're employed by Madonna isn't sexual harassment just part of the benefits package?

I could be wrong, but...

Lots of Stuff from MTV...

MTVe.COM | News Uncut: Short Stories on Britney Spears, Will Smith, Ozzy, J.Lo & more

The bad news first...Whitney Houston has apparently re-entered rehab...I'm glad to see she's getting help, but ever since she got together with Bobby Brown her life has been one tragedy after another. Both were rising stars when they got together, and it's been sad to watch promising talent wasted like that...I hope she gets herself together this time...How many chances is she going to get?

Good news for Backstreet Boys fans...Apparently they actually played a gig this weekend and plan to release a new album this year...

Paris and Britney Going to the Dogs

literally...

It seems that Bit Bit, Britney Spears' tea cup chihuahua is "so much cuter than Tinkerbell," Paris Hilton's pet of the same breed.

Paris' dog has his own book, The Tinkerbell Hilton Diaries: My Life Tailing Paris Hilton while Britney's dog has her own blog.

Even on the red carpet, it turns out that it's a dog-one-ups-dog world after all...

The Sexiest Woman in the World Is...

Saturday, March 26, 2005

Angelina Jolie!

Over 15 million people voted in the FHM poll that named Angelina Jolie number one.

That doesn't really come as a surprise to many I would think. What's more shocking is that Britney Spears didn't even make the list despite winning last year's poll. Sounds like Britney and her people need to do some brainstorming and figure out what's going on...

"The Return of the Voice"...

...is the theme of the campaign running in support of Mariah Carey's latest album.

I, for one, am looking forward to hearing from Mariah Carey. After some serious personal setbacks, hopefully she's got everything back on track again. She's got one of the greatest voices in the music business, and her personal troubles at least temporarily sidelined an extraordinarily promising career.

The new album drops April 4th and is titled The Emancipation of Mimi.

Jennifer Drops the Other Shoe on Brad...

Yahoo! News - Aniston Files for Divorce From Pitt

I guess Jennifer Aniston finally got tired of watching the tabloids making up stories about what was going on with her relationship with Brad Pitt.

The general consensus in Hollywood at the time of their marriage was that Jennifer really "cleaned Brad up," and that her influence on him was a very positive one. Now that things appear to be over for good between them, we'll have to keep our eyes on Brad in the future to see how much truth there was to that...