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Archive: April 2007
Comment Box: The Next Rosie & Topher vs. Tobey, a Primer
On Friday, I asked readers to compile a wish list of possible replacements for Rosie O'Donnell when she leaves ABC talkfest "The View" in June. Suggestions ranged from the sublime (Wanda Sykes) to the sedate (Soledad O'Brien). Surprisingly, "Designing Women" Delta Burke, Annie Potts, Jean Smart and Dixie Carter were all nominated, as was designing dude Meshach Taylor. (Who knew?) Below a list of your best suggestions: 1. Roseanne Barr 2. Michelle Malkin, but only if she wears her cheerleading outfit for every show. 3. Danny DeVito! Just get him drunk every once in a while to keep the ratings up. 4. Gilbert Gottfried, brilliant. Unfortunately, he will never get the gig. 5. Sandra Bernhard -- because I REALLY want that smarmy blond idiot (Editor's note: we assume the poster is referring to this smarmy blond idiot) to explode. 6. Max Headroom 7. A large brown bag with two eye-holes...
By Liz | April 30, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Boy George Arrested for Allegedly 'Kidnapping' Male Escort
Headlines: Boy George arrested for allegedly "kidnapping" male escort... Britney Spears pulled over for speeding; let off with warning... Richard Gere apologizes to Indians for kissing controversy... Beckhams buy $20 million Beverly Hills mansion... Pamela Anderson joins Vegas magic act... Launch of Kate Moss's fashion line expected to cause frenzy... "Whale Rider" Keisha Castle-Hughes gives birth to baby girl... "Survivor" producer Mark Burnett marries Roma Downey ("Touched by an Angel")... Sarah Jessica Parker slams Gwen Stefani's fashion line... Steve McQueen's Ferrari could fetch $1.2 million at auction... Re-animated Menudo holds auditions for five new members... Singer Christopher Cross sails into divorce court... Tracy Morgan ordered to wear alcohol-monitoring device in lieu of jail time... Daniel Baldwin's car theft charges dropped. Rumor MIll: Tabloid claims Angelina Jolie suffering from "deadly disease"... Is Katie Holmes ready to leave Tom Cruise?... Larry Birkhead cut $1 million exclusive deal with NBC... Paul Hogan ("Crocodile...
By Liz | April 30, 2007; 7:54 AM ET | Comments (0)
Friday List: Rosie's Replacement?
A "View" without Rosie O'Donnell is like a hot dog without mustard. Hmm. Or perhaps, it's like Pam Anderson without implants. No, that's not quite right either. I've got it: "The View" without Rosie O'Donnell is like a sedate, estrogen-dominated yawnfest without a perky lesbian known for speaking her mind. In other words, it's about to get boring again. Earlier this week, O'Donnell, citing unsuccessful contract negotiations with ABC, said she'll be leaving the confines of the coffee klatch in June. Barbara Walters struck an appropriately wistful tone, saying she felt bad for dragging O'Donnell back to TV in the first place. Joy Behar stuck with her well-worn post-menopausal arch pose, wondering how Donald Trump would get any press without Rosie around to kick. And Elizabeth Hasselbeck, who over the eight months she's sat across from O'Donnell has become something of a right-wing nemesis, managed to look smug, triumphant and...
By Liz | April 27, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (131)
Morning Mix: Baldwin Gets a Little Help from Dr. Phil
Headlines: Alec Baldwin ready to quit acting, seeks help from Dr. Phil... Indian court issues arrest warrant for Richard Gere for "obscene" kiss, Gere says he's not worried... St. Louis archbishop resigns over Sheryl Crow appearance... Tyra Banks cops a feel from Rosie O'Donnell, settles up week-old brunch bill... Former girlfriend says Phil Spector pulled guns on her... Paul McCartney slides down list of Britain's music millionaires... Angelina Jolie asks U.S. to increase aid to orphans in developing countries... Sarah Silverman to host MTV Movie Awards... David Beckham goes for that Gwen Stefani look... Film lobbyist Jack Valenti dead at 85 | Appreciation... "Monster Mash" singer Bobby Pickett dead at 69... Rapper Eve arrested for suspected DUI, bailed out by Sean Penn (really)... Stalker attacks Jesse James (Sandra Bullock's husband). Rumor Mill: Did Rosie O'Donnell want to boot Barbara Walters from "The View?"... Security detail warns fans not to "grab"...
By Liz | April 27, 2007; 7:44 AM ET | Comments (0)
'Lost' Dueling Analyses: Revelations Aplenty
Yet again, post.com movies editrix Jen Chaney and I get together to talk about our favorite escape from reality (and reality TV). Warning: Spoilers ahead! Sun (Yunjin Kim, right) and Jack (Matthew Fox). (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: Maybe it was the lack of Sawyer or the zillionth shot of the Losties arranging a tarp on a lean-to or perhaps Sun's semi-irrelevant flashback -- but something about last night's episode killed some of the momentum picked up over the past couple of weeks. Don't get me wrong: There were plenty of juicy bits (Mikhail is alive, Sun is directly responsible for Jin's induction into the Korean underworld, Juliet hinted that she's no fan of Ben and -- the big shocker -- Naomi says Oceanic 815 like totally crashed), it's just that they were surrounded by so much blandness. We received several important plot points, but the episode as a whole was...
By Liz | April 26, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Hugh Grant Busted for Baked Beans Attack
Headlines: Hugh Grant arrested for attacking paparazzo with baked beans (Photos)... Drew Barrymore tops People's "Most Beautiful People" list... British magazine FHM names Jessica Alba as Sexiest Woman in the World... NBC won't let Alec Baldwin quit "30 Rock"; Baldwin will appear on "The View" Friday... Judge says Larry Birkhead can bring Dannielynn to U.S... Anna Nicole Smith's diaries sell for $59,750... Spice Girl Mel B says Eddie Murphy left her with tattoo of his name... Spinal Tap reunites to fight global warming... Vanessa Minnillo leaving MTV's "TRL"... Jack Valenti checks out of Baltimore hospital... Snoop Dogg denied entry into Australia... Sanjaya Malakar's mom jailed for growing pot in 2005... Already jailed Joe Francis charged with sexual battery. Rumor Mill: Tom Cruise wants Katie Holmes to take Scientology mommy classes... Tobey Maguire travels with entourage of 10, personal chef. Shut Your Mouth! "[Making the cover] made my peacock feathers shine...
By Liz | April 26, 2007; 7:42 AM ET | Comments (0)
Timeline: A Brief Compendium of Rosie Quotes
Rosie O'Donnell (left) with fellow 'View'-sters Barbara Walters, Joy Behar and Elizabeth Hasselbeck. (AP) Despite early success as a stand-up comic, a respectable resume of big-screen supporting roles ("A League of Their Own," "Sleepless in Seattle"), a possible future on FX's "Nip/Tuck" and duty at the helm of two daytime talk shows, Rosie O'Donnell's propensity for speaking her mind has garnered her the most attention throughout her career. Following this morning's announcement of a planned exit from "The View," we pause to replay a few choice words from the mouth from Queens: 1999: "You are not allowed to own a gun, and if you do own a gun, I think you should go to prison." O'Donnell's outspoken anti-gun stance landed her in an on-screen imbroglio with actor Tom Selleck, who claims O'Donnell broke an agreement to not talk about his affiliation with the NRA. Nov. 20, 2006: "To me...
By Liz | April 25, 2007; 11:20 AM ET | Comments (0)
A Very Special Goodbye: TV Exits
Parting is such sweet sorrow, yet this ever-changing world in which we live in demands that we learn to say goodbye to our real friends -- the ones who turn out for us every week on TV -- far too often. With the explosion of reality TV shows, we are traumatized weekly by abrupt adieus. We hardly had time to clear a corner of our crowded hearts for adorable pixie Sanjaya Malakar before he was brutally excised from "American Idol" and condemned to the wraith-like fate of other reality show also-rans. All that remains is his name (which has taken on a Borat-like shorthand meaning "nerdy, gawky, fearless teen, a bit cooler than Napoleon Dynamite, but not so hip as to alienate grandparents") and a reputation as "the guy with the hair." Heather Mills and 'Dancing' partner Jonathan Roberts. (AP) Last night it was Heather Mills -- the woman who...
By Liz | April 25, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Rosie O'Donnell -- Adieu to 'The View'?
Headlines: Heather Mills voted off "Dancing With the Stars"... Spice Girl Mel B includes nod to alleged dad Eddie Murphy in baby's name... Alec Baldwin drops longtime agents... Angelina Jolie files court papers to add "Pitt" to name of new son Pax... Ashlee Simpson says plastic surgery is a personal choice... Suri Cruise celebrates birthday with pizza and cupcakes. Weirdo... Snoop Dogg offers to debate rap lyrics with Oprah... Phil Spector murder trial to kick off today... Record company halts distribution of contested Beyonce album... Willie Nelson spared jail time on drug possession charge. Rumor Mill: Is Rosie O'Donnell leaving "The View?"... Joe Simpson wants to rehab Britney Spears's career... LL Cool J headed to Broadway?... Reese Witherspoon wants Jennifer Aniston to stay away from Jake Gyllenhaal... Fergie needed 18 takes to get last week's taped "Idol" performance right (fifth item)... Anderson Cooper showers in undies... Larry Birkhead and Virgie...
By Liz | April 25, 2007; 7:44 AM ET | Comments (0)
Britney Spears: Suddenly Svelte
If nothing else, Britney Spears has an amazing ability to keep us guessing and illustrates perfectly the fact that we, despite our propensity for picking apart celebrities, have an astounding capacity to forgive and forget when presented with a set of killer abs. Hot on the heels of her stint in rehab -- which was itself hot on the heels of self-inflicted head-shaving, partying with Paris and a split from K-Fedex -- Spears has thrown us a curveball yet again. To put it in reality TV terms, she's gone from "Biggest Loser" to "Pussycat Doll" in what seems to be the span of about a month. And where other celebs (though no one in particular comes to mind) tend to show some wear-and-tear as a result of sudden body overhauls, Spears looks healthy, toned and -- as several male friends termed it -- "hott." Don't trust me, though. See for...
By Liz | April 24, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (26)
Morning Mix: Kim Basinger Denies Releasing Baldwin Voicemail
Headlines: Kim Basinger denies releasing Alec Baldwin voicemail... Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("The Tudors," "Match Point") enters rehab for alcohol abuse... Regis Philbin return to TV Thursday with guest David Letterman... Britney Spears shows off newly-trim figure... America Ferrara pushed into "Pants" sequel... "Laguna Beach's" Jason Wahler photographed playing with gun... Russell Simmons wants three epithets banned from rap... Spokesman says Cat Stevens didn't refuse to speak to non-veiled women... Milla Jovovich expecting first child... Spice Girls (minus Mel B) reunite for Geri Halliwell's baby christening... Meg Ryan says fate took her to her daughter... Keith Richards's 91-year-old mother dies... Sienna Miller replaces Lindsay Lohan in Dylan Thomas biopic... Shia LaBeouf working out seven days a week to prep for "Indiana Jones"... Shanna Moakler posts Paris Hilton's contact information online... Rod Stewart's son under investigation for assault... Whitney Houston/Bobby Brown divorce finalized... "Girls Gone Wild" creator Joe Francis sentenced to 35...
By Liz | April 24, 2007; 7:32 AM ET | Comments (25)
Comment Box: A Little More Alec Baldwin
Wasn't Alec Baldwin supposed to leave the United States after Bush was elected? How is that coming along? -- Just Wondering comments on Morning Mix: Alec Baldwin Lashes Out at 11-Year-Old Daughter You're referring to the voicemail Baldwin left on then 19-year-old Jenna Bush's cell phone in early 2000: "Listen you little twerp, if your right-wingnut of a father wins the White House, I'm out of here. I've had it with him. I don't care if he has the presence of mind of an 11-year-old. You can find me in Fiji, baby. Sayonara. Baldwin out." Well, not really. (But I think I did a good job of aping Baldwin's singular ability to put us inside his pain.) According to Snopes.com -- a Web site that has made a name debunking urban legends -- Baldwin's threat has proven difficult to pin down. The story goes that Baldwin (among other celebs including...
By Liz | April 23, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (22)
Morning Mix: Baldwin Apologizes for Voicemail Rant
Headlines: Jack Nicholson celebrates 70th year with 70 babes... Iggy Pop celebrates 60th with stagedive... Sanjaya rocks the White House Correspondents Dinner as Karl Rove clashes with Laurie David and Sheryl Crow... Madonna ends six-day Malawi visit (without seeing David Banda's father)... Chevy Chase details childhood abuse in new book... Oliver Stone to direct anti-war ad... U2's The Edge buys $15 million Malibu property... Courtney Love says she was addicted to perfection... Amy Winehouse engaged... Eric Bana crashes during Tasmanian car race... British Airways cuts Richard Branson from in-flight film... Brad Pitt signs on to Coen brothers' comedy. Rumor Mill: Angelina Jolie sues to block "Shiloh" perfume... Paris Hilton has no idea where she is... Keira Knightley "furious" with Lindsay Lohan for pulling out of movie... Queen Elizabeth to name Prince Philip royal consort on the couple's 60th anniversary. Shut Your Mouth! "I'm sorry, as everyone who knows me is...
By Liz | April 23, 2007; 7:28 AM ET | Comments (51)
Friday List: A Little Help for Sanjaya
Might we recommend the 'Don Juan De Marco' look for Saturday night's festivities? (Fox TV) "What would you do if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me?" -- The Beatles. Sanjaya Malakar needs a little help from his friends. Malakar, he of the novelty hair and shaky vocals, is coming to D.C. tomorrow night to attend the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. As a guest of People magazine, Sanjaya will doubtlessly be this year's most-talked-about attendee. Even now I can picture hordes of low-level cable news staffers hunting the Hilton's honeycomb of event rooms to catch a pre-dinner glimpse of 17-year-old reality TV sensation. One can only hope that photo ops include shots of the gangly teen with dinner regulars. ("Helen Thomas, you're on candid camera!") Sanjaya isn't the first "Idol" castoff to attend the event. A couple of years ago, I'll...
By Liz | April 20, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (33)
Morning Mix: Alec Baldwin Lashes Out at 11-Year-Old Daughter
"You don't have the brains or the decency as a human being. I don't give a damn that you're 12 years old, or 11 years old, or that you're a child, or that your mother is a thoughtless pain in the ass who doesn't care about what you do as far as I'm concerned. You have humiliated me for the last time with this phone." -- Alec Baldwin on his 11-year-old daughter's voicemail | Audio (Warning: Not safe for work) "I am praying for my father. We have never had a good relationship. It's sad that all the men that have been in my life do not know how to accept a real woman's love. I am concentrating on my work and my life right now." -- Britney Spears responds to her father's criticism of her recent decisions Headlines: List of sexiest entertainers includes Justin Timberlake, Jessica Alba, David Beckham......
By Liz | April 20, 2007; 7:41 AM ET | Comments (198)
'Lost' Dueling Analyses: Forward Motion = Good
This week, post.com movies editrix Jen Chaney and I agree that we excel at disagreeing and continue in that vein for approximately 1,500 words. Desmond, brotha... (Photo courtesy ABC) Jen: Although not as good as last week's installment (note to "Lost" producers: That's the one you should submit for Emmy consideration), last night's episode was still pretty thought-provoking. Liz, this time I don't think there is any way you can doubt that religious themes are a major part of what's happening. When monks start showing up, you know a show is getting kind of biblical. I found it interesting that Desmond's dissed fiancee is named Ruth, who in the Bible is the daughter-in-law of Naomi, the woman who fell out of the sky and onto our swell little island. (They didn't tell us her name yet on the show, but the character's identity already has been revealed.) Liz: Yes, yes...
By Liz | April 19, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (98)
Morning Mix: Katie Holmes Has a (Catholic) Secret
Headlines: Angelina Jolie says she's been sexual since kindergarten... Lindsay Lohan doesn't consider herself an addict... Sanjaya Malakar cut from "American Idol"... Simon Cowell denies disrespecting Virginia Tech victims... Courtney Love insists diet and exercise helped her drop 52 pounds... Lisa Rinna pulls red carpet out from under Joan Rivers... Johnny Depp's daughter looking healthy in London... Waxen Matthew McConaughey unveiled in Las Vegas... Actress Kitty Carlisle Hart dies at 96... James Brown's estate still owes $70K for funeral... Beyonce sued for allegedly illegally covering song... Chris Rock asks Georgia court to decide paternity claim... 50 Cent ordered to pay child support... Bill Wyman proves there's life after the Rolling Stones by developing his own line of metal detectors... Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears -- what are you wearing? Rumor Mill: Katie Holmes secretly talking to Catholic priests... David Beckham drops $54K on wife Victoria's birthday... Christina Ricci ordered to stop...
By Liz | April 19, 2007; 7:57 AM ET | Comments (20)
Happy Birthday to Suri
Birthday girl Suri Cruise. (Reuters) As Little Suri Cruise celebrates her first human birthday today, we pause to wish her well and reflect back on a idyllic era for stargazers -- when tabloid breathlessness, a cultish religion and superstardom flowed like so much manna into a perfect melange of celebrity sensationalism. Was it only a year ago that we were agog at rumors of silent births, adult pacifiers and the confinement of Katie Holmes? Remember the months-long wait for the first pictures that had us questioning Suri's very existence? And do you remember where you were when you first gazed upon the stylishly-coiffed visage of the hirsute pixie? (Okay, me either.) No word yet on how the Cruise brood plans to celebrate Suri's big day, but festivities will likely take place in Louisiana where Holmes is filming "Mad Money" when not calling the cops. A quick spin around the...
By Liz | April 18, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (19)
Morning Mix: Mag Publishes First Pix of Birkhead and Dannielynn
Madonna and daughter Lourdes at Malawi's Home of Hope orphanage. (Reuters) Headlines: Mag publishes first photos of Larry Birkhead and Dannielynn... Dave Chappelle gives six-hour stand-up show... Rosie O'Donnell cuts Bermuda from gay cruise... Victoria Principal books passage on space tour... Luke Wilson doesn't want his body compared with brother Owen's... Madonna visits Malawi orphanage, children pelt reporters with rocks... David Beckham reveals arm-covering tattoo... Clyde Drexler cut from "Dancing With the Stars"... Colin Firth to star in "Mamma Mia" movie... Man questioned in 1995 death of Jam Master Jay... Family of Notorious B.I.G. files wrongful death lawsuit against Los Angeles County... Rip Torn pleads guilty in drunk driving case... Paris Hilton ordered to attend hearing for violating probation, Hilton's laundry hamper up for auction... Former 'N Sync and Backstreet Boys manager sought by FBI. Rumor Mill: "Sahara" stars Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz doubled budget with pampering... Britney...
By Liz | April 18, 2007; 7:57 AM ET | Comments (11)
A Day of Silence
So this is the part of the day where I'm supposed to be funny and lob a few barbs at this or that celebrity worthy of being taken down a notch and, despite the fact that a little light news might be just what we need right now, I don't have it in me today. I spent five (or so) years as a student at Virginia Tech and resident of Blacksburg, Va. As images and details of yesterday's massacre continue to emerge, a part of my heart has broken knowing that this place -- a place of bucolic beauty, self-discovery, the pursuit of knowledge and a dynamically diverse population -- will forever be the site of unspeakable tragedy and horror for students, faculty, parents and a shocked world. We'll pick up where we left off tomorrow and, no doubt, take some celeb with an outsized ego to task for inserting...
By Liz | April 17, 2007; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (27)
Morning Mix: Travolta -- As Big As Elvis?
The Odd Couple: Jimmie Walker and Ann Coulter at the 5th Annual TV Land Awards. (AP) Headlines: John Travolta says he's as big as Elvis (he means fame-wise, not girth-wise)... Brad Pitt says Angelina Jolie is "supergirl"... Heather Mills takes a tumble... Ann Coulter attends awards show with J.J. Walker ("Good Times")... Indian protesters burn effigies of Richard Gere... Musician Bryan Ferry apologizes for praising Nazis... Regis Philbin will return to TV on April 26... Lily Allen postpones U.S. tour... Snoop Dogg asking $2 million for mansion... DannielynnBirkhead.com at auction for $1 million... Forest Whitaker gets star on Walk of Fame... Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony suing tabloid over drug scandal story. Rumor Mill: Britney Spears fires manager Larry Rudolph... Victoria Beckham considering "Dancing With the Stars" offer... Talullah Willis (daughter of Bruce and Demi) changing her name... "Idol's" Sanjaya Malakar booed at baseball game. Shut Your Mouth: "It's...
By Liz | April 17, 2007; 7:58 AM ET | Comments (27)
Comment Box: All-Star Politicians
Since Fred Thompson probably running [for] president has arguably pulled presidential politics into your "ology", are there any other actors or actresses out there who you think could be viable presidential contenders? -- Submitted during last week's Celebritology Live Fred Thompson, playing a fictionalized version of himself in 'Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World.' (Shangri-La Entertainment) Is this a trick question? I don't know your name, but I'll call you Barbra and, Barbra (if you are indeed for real), you may be one of the few Americans actually open to the idea of an actor insinuating himself (or herself) into the political arena. To give you some idea of what an anomaly you are, here is an example of the question I'd expect to receive on this topic: "Actors are narcissists who have no business exercising the same basic right of every American citizen to run for office. Don't...
By Liz | April 16, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (20)
Morning Mix: A Message From Britney, Y'all
Headlines: Prince William ends relationship with longtime girlfriend... Meanwhile, Princess Beatrice parties with Jermaine Jackson... Madonna and child arrive in Malawi for charity visit... Anna Nicole Smith's mother slowing down handover of baby Dannielynn to Larry Birkhead; Howard K. Stern files slander lawsuit against Arthur's lawyer... Andre Agassi accidentally hits wife Steffi Graf in face with tennis racket... Hawaiian crooner Don Ho dead at 76... Courtney Love denies she had weight-loss surgery... Alicia Silverstone praises her vegan lifestyle... Salma Hayek slams the Bible... Hackers using Paris Hilton pics to infect computers... Shia LaBeouf signs on to new "Indiana Jones" movie... Jon Cryer ("Two and a Half Men") to marry... Mike Tyson sells Arizona home for $2.1 million... Video: Simon Cowell on '90s-era game show. Rumor Mill: Edward Norton is the new "Hulk"... Halle Berry or Sienna Miller to star in "Barbarella" remake?... Beckhams living separate lives?... Rep denies Leonardo DiCaprio...
By Liz | April 16, 2007; 9:06 AM ET | Comments (32)
Friday List: Celluloid Celebrity
Gloria Swanson in 'Sunset Blvd.' (Paramount Pictures) Not all Friday Lists are intended as cathartic releases. Some -- like these lists of Sad Songs and tips on How to Survive a Horror Flick -- also fall into the category of service journalism. I, for one, consider myself enriched: my iPod is now extra mopey and I have been duly warned to give three-year-olds who speak Latin, Ancient Aramaic, Scytho-Khotanese or any other extinct language a wide berth. This Friday, we'll build on the spirit of goodwill by compiling a list of the best movies about life in front of the lens. From Woody Allen's "Celebrity" to J.Lo's "Selena," which films stand out as illuminating peeks into the surreal world of the entertainment industry and its attendant fame? Help me -- and each other -- compile a syllabus for a celebrity cinema master class. As usual, I'll start by sharing...
By Liz | April 13, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (66)
Morning Mix: Hollywood's Costliest Divorces
Headlines: Michael Jordan, Neil Diamond and Steven Spielberg top Forbes list of costliest divorces... CBS drops Don Imus's radio show... Jenny McCarthy opens up about son's autism... Julian Lennon sells stake in Beatles songs... Alyssa Milano designs line of women's baseball clothes... Gwen Stefani says she's always been on a diet... Australia honors Nicole Kidman... Abigail Breslin ("Little Miss Sunshine") to star in "American Girl" movie... Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell to pen children's books... Joe Francis charged with bribery, drug possession in jail... James Blunt won't be charged for February car incident. Rumor Mill: Madonna's publicist denies adoption rumors... Brangelina at odds over Shiloh?... Courtney Love to star as Anna Nicole Smith?... No leather for Tobey Maguire....
By Liz | April 13, 2007; 7:14 AM ET | Comments (0)
Lost Dueling Analyses: The Plot Thickens
Two out of two washingtonpost.com analysts (movie editor Jen Chaney and I) agree: last night's "Lost" rocked. Warning: Spoilers aplenty ahead. The duplicitous Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell). (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: With five shows to go, we're finally getting somewhere. I knew the episode would deliver the second Sayid opened his mouth and asked Juliet the questions any marooned crash survivor who has been antagonized by a hostile native population would ask given the opportunity. The questions that Jack, Kate, Locke and Sawyer somehow failed to form in their many dealings with the Others: "What are you people doing on this island? Why are you terrorizing us? Making lists? Taking our kids? I want to know everything. Who are you?" We didn't necessarily get answers to any of those questions, but our little show finally returned to form -- the plot was taut, the dialogue was the right mix of flippancy...
By Liz | April 12, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Madonna Adopting Again?
Headlines: Larry Birkhead says he won't share custody of Dannielynn... Anna Nicole Smith's final movie to debut at Cannes Film Festival... Willa Ford to play Smith on screen... MSNBC dumps Imus telecast, wife Dierdre ditches book tour... CBS says Katie Couric didn't know video essay was plagiarized; but is she dating a triathlete?... Melanie "Scary Spice" Brown names Eddie Murphy as dad on birth certificate... Justin Timberlake says he called Britney Spears... Drew Barrymore is new face of CoverGirl... Fergie sends Alanis Morissette "butt" cake for "Humps" spoof... Haley Scarnato cut from "American Idol"... Jermaine, Tito and LaToya Jackson to judge new TV talent show... Kimora Lee Simmons gets reality show... Violinist Joshua Bell (you know, this guy) wins Avery Fisher Prize... Heather Locklear and Richie Sambora officially divorced... Novelist Kurt Vonnegut dead at 84... Marc Anthony to pay $2.5 million in back taxes; rep denies rift between Anthony and...
By Liz | April 12, 2007; 7:42 AM ET | Comments (0)
It Book: 'Hollywood Car Wash'
(ASJA Press) Lori Culwell's new book, "Hollywood Car Wash" -- a novel about a young actress who finds herself thrust into the Hollywood industry machine, reshaped, renamed and dating a star with a big secret -- hit Los Angeles where it hurts. Katie Holmes is reportedly beside herself about the situations in the book which eerily mirror her own life and, although Culwell doesn't specifically name Holmes as an inspiration, she does say that the book is based on real events. Culwell says the title is a term coined to describe the transformation imposed on women in Hollywood and cites Brittany Murphy (seen here in "Clueless" and more recently) as an example of the metamorphosis. ("Not that I'm saying she HAD the Hollywood Car Wash," says Culwell. But... you know what I mean.") Yesterday, Culwell and I exchanged e-mails and talked about her new book, her advice for Katie...
By Liz | April 11, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Birkhead Still Dannielynn's Dad; A Boat for Brangelina?
Headlines: Larry Birkhead is Dannielynn's father | Who is Birkhead? | Dannielynn timeline... Liz Hurley could face jail time for Indian wedding... Sponsors pull ads from Imus shows... Madonna, Police to headline Live Earth concerts... Mandy Moore describes herself as "mediocre"... Danny Glover says he won't run in San Francisco mayor's race... Scarlett Johansson wins yet another "sexiest" woman poll... Willie Nelson developing chain of country-fied casinos... Danny Bonaduce's wife files for divorce... Leeza Gibbons voted off "Dancing With the Stars"... "Dancing" host Samantha Harris announces pregnancy... Fire destroys Johnny Cash's lakeside home... Snoop Dogg hit with drug and gun charges for October incident; says he's no Imus... "Girls Gone Wild" creator Joe Francis arrested... Fans ask Florida governor to pardon Jim Morrison. Rumor Mill: Brangelina buy six-suite luxury yacht... Paris Hilton skips Kim Kardashian's birthday party... Britney Spears sets her sights on Laker Luke Walton, cuts ties with Paris...
By Liz | April 11, 2007; 6:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Dannielynn: A Timeline
Baby Dannielynn in October 2006. (AP/Entertainment Tonight) And so another chapter in the Anna Nicole Smith saga comes to an end. With today's announcement of the Larry Birkhead as the DNA-endorsed father of baby Dannielynn, let us hope we never hear from Prince Frederic von Anhalt ever again. Sept. 7, 2006: Baby Dannielynn born to Anna Nicole Smith in Nassau, Bahamas. Sept. 10, 2006: Smith's 20-year-old son Daniel dies in her Bahamas hospital room. Sept. 26, 2006: Lawyer/companion Howard K. Stern announces to Larry King that he is the father of Smith's baby. Feb. 7, 2007: Judge orders Anna Nicole Smith to submit to paternity suit pressed by photographer and ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead. Feb. 8, 2007: Anna Nicole Smith dies in Hollywood, Fla. Feb. 12, 2007: Prince Frederic von Anhalt (Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband) claims paternity of Dannielynn. Feb. 16, 2007: Imprisoned Smith ex Mark Hatten says he could...
By Liz | April 10, 2007; 4:21 PM ET | Comments (0)
Larry Birkhead is Anna Nicole's Baby's Daddy
Will link to wire story when we have it, but Larry Birkhead just emerged from the courthouse where the DNA results were revealed and said "I told you so!" He says his next move is to go to a toy store. Howard K. Stern says he's disappointed but will not fight for custody of baby Dannielynn. No reaction yet from Prince Frederic von Anhalt. 4:17 p.m. ET: As promised, here's a link to the wire story. Look for a timeline of little Dannielynn's travails to be posted shortly....
By Liz | April 10, 2007; 3:44 PM ET | Comments (24)
Report Card: TomKat Gets Schooled
Matchy-Matchy-ness: Towering six inches over one's spouse? Grade: D. (Getty Images) How are Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes faring as they approach their five-month anniversary? Celebritology attempts to make sense of Hollywood's most inscrutable relationship by applying the one-size-fits-all high school report card approach. Don't worry TomKat, no pesky standardized testing here, but as my high school guidance counselor would say, perhaps you'd better apply to more than one safety school. Romance Gone are the days of Tom devouring Katie on international red carpets. Body language says it all, kids, and pix like this speak volumes. Rumors of Tom's micromanagement of Katie's career and her hours-long calls to Victoria Beckham for advice on how to cope with Cruise's controlling ways only add to overall concern. Grade: D Friendships Aside from the above-mentioned Victoria Beckham, Katie seems to spend most of her time with her credit card and baby Suri....
By Liz | April 10, 2007; 11:23 AM ET | Comments (17)
Morning Mix: Dunst Says Weed Makes for a Better World
Headlines: Don Imus gets two-week suspension for racial slur... Anna Nicole Smith baby DNA results due today... Justin Timberlake says he boosted popularity of McDonalds, Grammys... Britney Spears (dressed in a tea towel) spends Easter shopping... Nine hundred guests welcome back "Entourage" at premiere party... Tobey Maguire may pass on fourth "Spider-Man" installment... Leonardo DiCaprio signs up for al Qaeda drama... NBC pulls Andy Richter's new sitcom... Elizabeth Shue ("Leaving Las Vegas") planning pro tennis career... "The Hills's" Jason Wahler arrested again. Rumor Mill: Angelina Jolie using subsidized daycare for kids?... Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds enjoy New York weekend... Tabloid says Tom Cruise told Katie Holmes she's not happy enough in public... Film students accuse Quentin Tarantino of ripping off "Grindhouse" idea... Diddy regales four-month-old daughters with diamond necklaces... Jay-Z denies fathering model's five-year-old son... Sharon Osbourne to replace Brandy as judge on "America's Got Talent"... Laura Dern signs...
By Liz | April 10, 2007; 7:58 AM ET | Comments (16)
Morning Mix: Countdown to Reveal of Dannielynn's Daddy
Headlines: Identity of Anna Nicole Smith's baby's daddy to be announced Tuesday... Halle Berry slams magazine for dredging up suicide story... Radio host Don Imus apologizes for slur against college basketball team, will visit Al Sharpton's radio show... Martha Stewart heads to Kazakhstan to see pal off on space flight... Robert Rodriguez and ex-wife issue statement saying they work together just fine... Kate Beckinsale says Hollywood ideal is unrealistic... Bon Jovi action figures to hit stores in August... Jackie Chan launches Chinese TV fighting/talent show... Avril Lavigne and Deryck Whibley buy $9.5 million home... Christopher Reeve's "Superman" costume sells for $115,000... Isaac Hanson (the oldest "MMMBop" kid) and wife welcome first child... "Scrubs" star John C. McGinley marries... Jerry Orbach gets his own New York street corner... "B.C." cartoonist Johnny Hart dead at 76. Rumor Mill: Ashlee Simpson spotted snuggling with Fallout Boy's Pete Wentz... Taryn Manning still hasn't been...
By Liz | April 9, 2007; 5:43 AM ET | Comments (23)
Friday List: Don't Remake This Movie
There seems to be no escape from remakes. (AVCO Embassy Pictures) Quite possibly you heard it: The sound of legions of faithful "Escape from New York" fans shuddering in unison after learning that "300's" Gerard Butler will star as Snake Plissken in a remake of "Escape from New York." For those few uninitiated souls out there who somehow managed to make it to 2007 without experiencing "Escape," the 1981 original stands as an unparalleled masterpiece of B-movie fare. To compare it to its peers of the same era: If "Mad Max" was post-apocalyptic and edgy, "Escape" was post-apocalyptic and cheesy. If "Blade Runner" was a "cyberpunk vision of the future," "Escape" was the low-rent dream of kids turning off disco and turning on to leather jackets. If "Star Wars" was the ground-breaking first installment of George Lucas's storied trilogy, "Escape," too, spawned a mini-empire for director John Carpenter, who...
By Liz | April 6, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (121)
Morning Mix: Disney Miffed with Keith Richards' Snorting Story
Headlines: Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal (Witherhaal? Gyllenspoon?) get serious... Al Gore to open Tribeca Film Festival... Scarlett Johansson likes to be mysterious... Drew Barrymore signs on to film adaptation of "He's Just Not That Into You"... Britney Spears cuts price on Malibu mansion... Joe Francis refuses to surrender to "judge gone wild"... Anna Nicole Smith doctor under investigation; Smith's diaries up for auction again... Kevin Costner sues music promoter for breach of contract... Gary Glitter to ask Vietnam for amnesty again. Rumor Mill: Disney miffed with "Pirates" co-star Keith Richards over snorting story... Hey, Courtney Love, Whoopi Goldberg just lost 43 pounds, too... Ice Cube fires boozing tour bus driver... Sean Connery still not on board for "Indiana Jones" sequel. "It wouldn't work. I have a butt, I have boobs and I have a woman's curves; there is no way I'd see them go to zero. I hate to...
By Liz | April 6, 2007; 7:59 AM ET | Comments (18)
'Lost' Dueling Analyses: Something For Everyone?
This week, post.com movies editrix Jen Chaney and I disagree yet again, but in a Bizarro World kind of way. Warning: Spoilers ahead. Sawyer (Josh Holloway) beer batters a wild boar. (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: To borrow the sentiment from a famous Abraham Lincoln quote, you can't please all of the people all of the time. Last night's episode, though, attempted to do just that: We had action unfolding in both major areas of the island, muddy girl-fighting, the return of the smoke monster, Hurley getting one over on Sawyer, a handy Sawyer tie-in via Kate's flashback and, ultimately, promise of an interesting episode next week when Jack, Kate, Sayid and Juliet return to the Losties' main digs. And I, for one, find myself pleased. Maybe I'm a cheap date, but a little Hurley and some smoke monster will get me every time. Jen: We have switched roles this week,...
By Liz | April 5, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (99)
Morning Mix: Britney Finds Romance in Rehab
Headlines: Keith Richards says dad's ashes are under a tree, not up his nose... One doctor prescribed all the drugs found in Anna Nicole Smith's body... Whitney Houston wins custody of daughter Bobbi Kristina... Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan end feud... Patrick Dempsey says Isaiah Washington is a changed man, at least from afar... Ailing Tony Bennett pulls out of "Idol" performance... Halle Berry to go bald for film role... Sanjaya Malakar's sister plays guitar commando... Mark Wahlberg doubtful of "Departed" sequel... George Clooney pays kids $20 for lemonade... Valerie Bertinelli signs on as new Jenny Craig spokesperson... Designer Anand Jon accused of assaulting four more women... Director Robert Clark ("A Christmas Story") killed in head-on collision. Rumor Mill: Britney Spears finds rehab romance, calls Kevin Federline her biggest (as in $13 million) mistake... K-Fed's little brother arrested for underage drinking... Suri Cruise gets her hair done every week (fourth...
By Liz | April 5, 2007; 7:39 AM ET | Comments (26)
Keith Richards, Father's Little Helper
Richards in 2003. (Reuters) Keith Richards is the world's longest living dead man walking, a member of one of the defining bands of rock and roll and has been a gracious punchline (see above "dead man walking" reference) for decades now. A guy who has survived heroin, disco and a nasty spill from a coconut tree deserves a certain amount of props for sheer staying power. Turns out, though, that Richards is also a genius. Richards, with one well-placed sentence, was single-handedly able to make Britney Spears look like a Girl Scout, Pete Doherty seem almost angelic, Tom Cruise appear somewhat normal and set a new high (or low, depending on your point of view) for celebrity scoop. Just in case there's anyone left out there who hasn't yet heard, Richards reportedly told a British magazine that he snorted his dead father's cremated remains: "He was cremated and I...
By Liz | April 4, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (31)
Morning Mix: Manager Says Richards Did Not Snort Pops
Actress Halle Berry hugs Honorary Mayor of Hollywood Johnny Grant. (AP) Headlines: Keith Richards's manager says he didn't snort his father... Newsweek says Will Smith is most powerful actor... Judge doesn't say name of Anna Nicole Smith's baby's daddy... Shandi Finnessey says "Dancing With the Stars" experience was amazing... Jennifer Lopez says Marc Anthony is her perfect match... Fergie says Josh Duhamel is her private dancer... Mark Wahlberg says he doesn't think of himself as a sex symbol... Coldplay's Chris Martin says "This is my wife Gwyneth"... Tearful Heather Mills says she's no golddigger... Salma Hayek says she faces prejudice in Mexico and the U.S... Halle Berry says she wishes we could all be "inside her right now"... Rosario Dawson says she loves being single... Film critic Roger Ebert says he's feeling better... Lindsay Lohan says "gotta think sex scene today." Rumor Mill: Tommy Lee moves back in with...
By Liz | April 4, 2007; 7:54 AM ET | Comments (29)
Celebritology Clip n' Save: The 411 for Jeremy Piven's 911
Oh, and lose the hat. (AP) Jeremy Piven has a lot of hugging it out (bitch) to do. The one-time buddy, collaborator, and dream road trip go-to guy (seriously, who hasn't wanted to hit Vegas with the Piv at least once?) seems to have evaporated. In recent months, he's done little to engender good will from fans, old friends or random restaurant employees. He's a one-man walking tutorial in boorishness and this behavior must be curtailed, I tell you, before his personal gaffes eclipse his masterful portrayal of agent Ari Gold on HBO's "Entourage." We used to love the Piv. And we want him back. To that end, sometime Celebritology contributor Lisa Todorovich and I have compiled a list of suggestions to help Piven get back on track: 1. Here's a tip: An "Entourage" DVD is not one. According to this handy guide, "a 15 to 20-percent tip is...
By Liz | April 3, 2007; 11:17 AM ET | Comments (24)
Morning Mix: Brangelina Plotting Fourth Adoption?
Headlines: Rosie O'Donnell calls Bill O'Reilly a "fattish imbecile"... Howard K. Stern drops appeal in paternity case... Spice Girl Mel B gives birth to baby girl. (Oh, and, happy birthday Eddie Murphy)... Madonna dedicates new children's book to David Banda... Oprah to speak at Howard University commencement ceremony... Jennifer Lopez (The Artist Formerly Known As J.Lo) spends Monday at jury duty... The Cure teaming up with Ashlee Simpson... Justin Timberlake says he's had it with gossip magazines... Mandy Moore fractures ankle at magazine photo shoot... Black Eyed Peas's Fergie talks about her lesbian relationships... Ashes of "Star Trek's" Scotty (James Doohan) to be blasted into space (the final frontier)... Big-mouthed "Knight Rider" car KITT up for sale... John Taylor's (Duran Duran) home burglarized... Warrant issued for country singer Billy Joe Shaver in shooting incident. Rumor Mill: Angelina Jolie planning fourth adoption?... Mariah Carey next star to adopt? (second item)... Rose...
By Liz | April 3, 2007; 7:48 AM ET | Comments (28)
Comment Box: How Many Black Eyed Peas?
Black Eyed Peas's Taboo (with bandmate Apl.De.Ap) holds up a cardboard cutout of more recognizable bandmate Stacy Ferguson at the Kids' Choice Awards. (AP) What's with those other two dudes in the Black Eyed Peas? -- Liz Okay, so I submitted this question myself because I've long wondered why Fergie and Will.I.Am always seem to have these two other guys on stage with them. Aside from sporting ensembles goofy enough to make Sanjaya Malakar envious and strike caricature-ish poses, what exactly do Taboo and Apl.De.Ap (pictured at right) do? Based on my limited exposure to the Peas (I'm obviously allergic), Taboo seems to lurch around like some kind of uncoordinated giant and get arrested while Aple.Whathizhoozie chimes in from time to time with a well-placed "Yo" or "Yah." Maybe I'm the last to know, but it turns out that Apl.Strudel (aka Allan Lindo) has been with Will.I.Am since their...
By Liz | April 2, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (26)
Morning Mix: Rosie and Hasselbeck, BFF 4Eva!
Headlines: Elizabeth Hasselbeck says she and Rosie O'Donnell are best of friends... Drugs that killed Anna Nicole Smith prescribed to Howard K. Stern, others... Daniel Craig tops list of most stylish men... Justin Timberlake, who recently dissed "Idol" Taylor Hicks, takes top honors at Kids' Choice Awards... Hilary Duff says she's felt pressured to be thin... Lil' Jon sets world bling record with diamond pendant... Helen Mirren (who just joined the cast of the locally-filming "National Treasure" sequel) buys 500-year-old Italian castle... Usher engaged to longtime girlfriend... Marie Osmond divorcing husband of 20 years... Warren Beatty admits "You're So Vain" is about him (second item)... Former "Family Ties" star Brian Bonsall (recognize him?) charged with assault... Martin Sheen cited at anti-nuke rally... That's right, "Adventures in Babysitting" is being remade. Rumor Mill: More rumors fly after Diddy's late night visit to Sienna Miller's house... Woman arrested outside Tom Cruise's home......
By Liz | April 2, 2007; 7:28 AM ET | Comments (23)
