Celebritology Archive: In Praise Of...

In Praise of Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan arrive at the premiere of his latest movie, 'Tropic Thunder.' (Getty Images) A lot has already been said in praise of Robert Downey Jr. He's the ultimate comeback kid, giving hope to fallen stars and recovering addicts the world over. And, although in the picture above he couldn't possibly look more like Wayne Newton, it is nearly impossible to snark at this guy -- who has gone from less than zero to iron man (literally and figuratively) over the course of his 20-some year career. Though he came of age on film in schlocky teen fare like "Weird Science" and "Tuff Turf" (and we all know "Pretty in Pink's" Duckie Dale was just a cheap RDJ rip-off) it wasn't long before Downey was leaving peers like Anthony Michael Hall behind to take on more challenging roles and garner critical praise. Parts with...

In Praise of Snoop Dogg

Defying convention yet again, Snoop Dogg makes the scene at Monday night's CMT Awards. (AP) Bow wow wow yippee yo yippee yay, Snoop Dogg's in the [expletive] house. I may take some heat here for giving props to a man who is too hot (hot = packing heat) for most airports and one entire country (Great Britain), but in the past year or so Snoop Dogg -- aka Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr. -- has been quietly ripping a stereotype he helped create to shreds. He's emerging like a butterfly from his Crip-enabled chrysalis to transcend his former image of a gang-banging rhyme slinger. He may not be perfect, but hey, he's trying. Last week he risked a big time street cred reduction when he sat down with the harpies of "The View" to talk about his new album and line of clothes. And while Barbara Walters and Elisabeth Hasselbeck...

In Praise of Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts walks the red carpet at the L.A. premiere of 'Charlie Wilson's War.' (AP) Every so often we take a break from the snark, push aside our vitriolic hate of Diane Keaton and get all doe-eyed here at Celebritology central. Like any other average Jane, we're (I'm not putting on airs. I refer to myself and my dog, Page.) susceptible to the charms of brilliant, shimmering star power -- especially when that wattage is the equivalent of green energy. Which is a nerdly way of saying "good." And so today, we gather to sing the praises of one Julia Roberts -- who has again been popping up on red carpets to promote her new movie, "Charlie Wilson's War." She of the big eyes and big smile. She who lives her life largely away from the wack crowd we normally track here. She who pretty much plays herself in...

Remembering Jane Wyman

Jane Wyman at the height of her 'Falcon Crest' reign. (HO/AFP/Getty Images) I don't claim to know any more about Jane Wyman than the average bear. She was a starlet back when "starlet" meant someone who actually punched a clock at one of Hollywood's major studios. She was the first wife of Republican deity Ronald Reagan. And she presided over one of last of the great primetime soaps, "Falcon Crest." It was in this last role that she entered my orbit. As a snot-nosed Army brat living in Naples, Italy in the early '80s, I hungrily devoured tapes of American TV shipped overseas for trade in the ex-pat "Betamax club." These tapes were my first introduction to the sublime canon of early-80s TV -- "The Facts of Life," "Too Close for Comfort," "The Barbara Mandrell Show," "Simon and Simon" and, of course, "Falcon Crest." While "Dallas" left me somewhat...

In Praise of Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt in New Orleans Tuesday. (AP) Considering the battering Brangelina has taken in the press since, well, the two were first linked, it's only fair that we pause today to consider a bit of commendable behavior on the part of one William Bradley Pitt all by his lonesome. Inevitably, comments about Pitt's unceremonious dumpage of that sweet Jennifer Aniston after falling under the spell of the duplicitous harlot Angelina Jolie will mitigate some of this praise. Ancient history. Jen has moved on -- let's join her. Let's separate the man from his choice of mates. Besides, when I see an A-list star donning a hard hat to build homes for someone other than himself, I'm impressed. And so it was that Pitt toured New Orleans's lower ninth ward this week, replete with hard hat and rough-hewn good looks, to check up on the construction of the Holy Cross...

In Praise of Johnny Depp

Who are you wearing? Johnny Depp arrives at the Tokyo premiere of 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.' (AP) If you're asking Johnny Depp, the answer could only be "myself." Not many 43-year-old men can successfully pull off the polo shirt/paramilitary/hippie/beatnik look, but then Depp is no ordinary man. The actor, who first surfaced in 1984's "Nightmare on Elm Street" and unwittingly cast a spell over a generation of teen girls on Fox's "21 Jump Street," sported just such a look today in Tokyo while promoting the latest installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean." And rather than make him walk the plank for an outfit that would approach fug on anyone else, I find myself instead delighted by this man who isn't afraid of looking a little bit silly in support of his fierce individuality. While most Hollywood men tend to stick with a safe less-is-more wardrobe for public...

Older Entries in This Category »

Tyra Banks: A Lot to Love, Liz , January 25, 2007

In Praise of Marky Mark, Liz , January 24, 2007

In Praise of Kate, Liz , December 6, 2006