Archive: April 2009 (201-210 of 498)

Apr 17 2009 07:59 PM ET

Janeane Garofalo snubs Rush Limbaugh, Lynne Cheney on '24' set: Right on

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Filed under: Television, To Care or Not to Care and tagged: , ,

24janeanegaraflo_dlJaneane Garofalo drew a fair amount of unwarranted flack a couple years ago when she dared to take a role on 24, a show whose torture-filled plotlines don’t quite match up with her own well-known progressive views. Now that same old non-issue is back in the news because Garofalo has told The Village Voice that she snubbed such fine Americans as Rush Limbaugh and Lynne Cheney when they visited the set of 24. "I refused to have my picture taken with them or meet them or anything," Garofalo recalled. "When somebody came to me privately and said ‘do youwant to meet them?’, I said absolutely not." Good for her! The fact that Garofalo acts in an apparently right-leaning fictional television show does not obligate her to get pals-y in real life with the likes of Limbaugh and Cheney.

In fact, it sounds to me like Garofalo was far nicer than she needed to be. She told the Voice that she "didn’t want to make a scene out of it" when Limbaugh and Cheney arrived: "I would never have made a big show of it and embarrassed people who worked there." Let me tell you, if I was offered the opportunity to greet Rush Limbaugh, I don’t know if I’d be able to muster that kind of polite restraint. Gawker, meanwhile, actually faults Garofalo for not making a bigger scene: "But, hey, at least Garofalo mounted a private act of semi-defiance, whichmay or may not have been noticed, in between cashing paychecks." Yes, Gawker, your liberal activist cred is soooo much more impressive and purer than Janeane Garofalo’s. Holier-than-thou FAIL.

I guess Garofalo is just damned if she does, damned if she doesn’t for some people. What do you think? Should she have done something differently when Rush and Lynne graced her with their presences? Do you even care about this?

Apr 17 2009 07:37 PM ET

Glamour Shot Friday: Y'all look like Muppets!

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Muppets_dannylupuIt’s one thing to exhibit slight amusement over the popular Facebook quiz "Which Muppet Are You?" but quite another to truly commit to that puppet’s persona via basic photo-editing tools and a general dearth of shame. So I sent out a prompt — Which Muppet are you? PROVE IT — via Twitter (I’m kind of into Twitter! I know, I know.), received some gems along the lines of reader Danny’s take on Sam the Eagle, pictured, and now want to throw it out to you. Click "Continue reading" to see a few more readers’ submissions and then, by all means, waste some time creating your own split-screen proof of Muppet heritage and post the link in the comments. Why wouldn’t you do that? It’s Glamour Shot Friday!

(Next week’s theme: animated Disney royalty. For inspiration, please refer to Prince Eric Jon Hamm. Send your side-by-sides in via email or Twitter.)

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Apr 17 2009 07:17 PM ET

Speidi's wedding registry leaked!

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Heidimontag_lThe Hills‘ fair-haired evil duo Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag are reportedly getting set to marry this weekend for the 505th time and we got our hands on the pair’s "top-secret" gift registry. Here’s a sneak peek:

  • A lifetime membership to the Botox Babes of America club
    Requested: 1
    Still need: 0
  • Actors to play paparazzi outside the ceremony
    Requested: 20
    Still need: 14
  • Actors to play paparazzi on the honeymoon
    Requested: 5
    Still need: 4
  • Yellow crime tape to keep certain, ahem, relatives from objecting
    Requested: one roll
    Still need: one roll
  • Woman with decent singing voice to sing Heidi’s music "backstage" at reception
    Requested: 1
    Still need: 0
  • Camcorder to record future sex tape all the festivities
    Requested: 1
    Still need: 1
  • A  plane ticket to Crested Butte, Co. just in case someone needs to clear their head
    Requested: 45
    Still need: 28
  • Top-shelf tequila— and lots of it
    Requested: 5 cases
    Still need: 1 case

That’s the only part of the registry we were able to sleuth out. But if you had to guess, Pop Watchers, what else should be on it?

Apr 17 2009 05:52 PM ET

'30 Rock': Best moments from 'Jackie Jormp-Jomp'

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Filed under: About Last Night, Television and tagged: , ,

Last night’s 30 Rock just may have had the most laughs-per-minute than any other episode this season, starting off strong right out of the gate (can Liz go to "pervert seminars" forever, please?) and never letting up. Here, in chronological order, are the moments that broke me up the most:

1. "It’s pronounced ‘weiner slave.’

2. Janis Joplin biopic goes from Janey Jimplin to Jackie Jormp-Jomp.

3. Frank’s "Constant Craving" hat. "He could do better!"

4. Decoy candy drawer. Genius!

5. Jenna’s feud with Raven-Symone: "She knows what she did!"

6. Jack’s pronunciation of Tupac: "Two-puck"

7. "Heavy is the head that eats the crayons."

8. All activities done by lonely, rich divorcees can be described in Indigo Girls’ song titles.

9. Liz’s downward dog pose.

10. "I’m back, nerds!"

What did you think, PopWatchers? Were there other moments from "Jackie Jormp-Jomp" that you loved? Or were you too at your own fight club?

Apr 17 2009 05:39 PM ET

Sofia Coppola's 'Somewhere': Why casting the Chateau Marmont is tricky

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Filed under: Movies and tagged:

Chateaumarmont_lThe news that Sofia Coppola is prepping a new film, Somewhere, that will prominently feature Hollywood’s famed Chateau Marmont hotel is interesting in that the delightful filmmaker already famously infused the luxurious Park Hyatt Hotel in Tokyo with lots of life in 2003′s Oscar-winning movie Lost in Translation. More than just being the main setting for the strange Bill Murray-Scarlett Johansson love story, the Park Hyatt became a sad, lonely character itself. Oh, aren’t you just envisioning those tragic souls there at the New York Bar inside the Park Hyatt right now? Yeah, me too.

But can Coppola work her magic again with the Chateau? Not that she has to create the same sad, sterile feel for the Chateau as she did for the Park Hyatt, but with all the fanfare about her getting permission to actually shoot the film at the tabloid star-loving locale, she’s gotta be able to deliver on some serious Chateau charm. Again, she’ll undoubtedly be charged with making a location a character in this movie. And because the Chateau is so well-known in Hollywood circles, Coppola has got to get its soul just perfectly…or risk knowing Hollywood types ripping it to shreds. Despite its tragic past (John Belushi died there) and sometimes just-plain-silly present (an ambulance picked up Josh Hartnett there for his recent gas pains), it has a special place in the lore of movie making and L.A.

If I had to make a guess, I’d say that Coppola should have no problem. Despite the stakes in this situation, she’s an ace moviemaker. Again, just look at Lost in Translation. And The Virgin Suicides. And Maire Antoinette. But what do you think? Will she be able to give the Chateau all the heart and soul it so deserves?

More on Sophia Coppola and ‘Lost in Translation’ from EW:
‘Lost in Translation’ movie review
‘Lost in Translation’ DVD review
Sophia Coppola talks about ‘Lost in Translation’

Apr 17 2009 05:34 PM ET

'Bones' recap: Which one of them is 'acutely aware'?

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Filed under: About Last Night, Bones, Television and tagged: , ,

This episode could not have come at a better time. Not because it taught us about the rivalry between death metal and black metal bands. (Apparently, it’s over who can use the word "legendary" in the most annoying manner.) But because there’s been mixed feelings on the characters of Brennan and Sweets as of late: Why has she emotionally and socially regressed? Why is he being integrated so heavily into the investigations? Regardless of whether you saw the final scene in Sweets’ office as Brennan’s redemption for her recent blunt blunders or an example of the reasoning and empathy she’s actually capable of, you have to admit it was effing fantastic.

So Gordon Gordon (guest star Stephen Fry) returned to tell Booth that he was retiring and to chat with Sweets, who’d asked him to read the manuscript of the book he’s writing on Booth and Brennan. Being the brilliant, cryptic man that he is, he informed Sweets that his premise was completely wrong: Booth and Brennan are not opposites and they aren’t sublimating the attraction they feel for one another because it would threaten their professional relationship. One of them is acutely aware of it and struggles with it daily. He wouldn’t say which one. Did he mean Booth or Brennan? I say the answer is clearly Booth. Brennan knows that she respects, trusts, and cares for Booth (and that he has sexy symmetrical features) but I don’t think her mind is ready to acknowledge her romantic feelings for him. In order for her to feel Big Love, she has to believe it exists first. That’s what she’s focused on: The idea of it instead of the idea that HE is it. Booth, on the other hand, has been dealing with his feelings since at least "The Baby in the Bough," when he let the "we" and "our" slip. (Probably before. Remember how he reacted when Brennan kissed him on the cheek when he let Russ visit his sick stepdaughter in the hospital before arresting him? That little foot stomp. Swoon. There are so many moments I could point to here…) And let’s talk about that final scene last night (embedded above.) He wouldn’t have revealed that information about his past — if it hadn’t been for his grandfather, he probably would’ve killed himself as a kid (presumably to get away from his violent, alcoholic father) — for anyone but her. And did you see the way he looked down at the pocket over his heart when she put his handkerchief back in it? Yes, her hand might’ve lingered, but he reached his up to touch where hers had been and gave that look that David Boreanaz gives so well. The kind you rewind to see again. He knows how he feels. And he knows he can’t rush her. And that’s the struggle.

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Apr 17 2009 05:05 PM ET

'American Idol"s Kara DioGuardi: Once and for all -- yea or nay on the new judge?

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Filed under: American Idol and tagged: ,

Heathersidol_lThe bizarre "You only get two of us" judging policy employed on Tuesday’s American Idol performance show was a shot in the same dark, tangly abyss from which Randy seems to select his nonsensical word salads. Hearing from only Randy/Kara or Paula/Simon after each song was pretty offensive and made the judges seem more useless than usual. Looks like that experiment is now over and all four will address each singer next week, but Tuesday’s disaster really drove home a point that’s been evident all season: This "four judges" thing really isn’t working out.

We initially suspected that Kara DioGuardi would end up replacing Paula, but at this point it might be better to just let extra-mild-salsa Kara go. She’s clearly the Veronica Sawyer in a sea of Heathers — the way Simon blatantly mocked her facial quirks to Paula at the other end of the lunch table Tuesday night, he may as well have just asked Kara out loud, "Did you eat a brain tumor for breakfast?" Should Idol drop Kara before she (Heathers spolier alert!) pours Drano into their Coca-Cola cups? Or do you agree with Michael Slezak that the "fourth wheel on the busted shopping cart that is Idol‘s judging panel" is Randy Jackson instead? Let us know in the comments; meanwhile…it’s time to resurrect the sacred Lunchtime Poll!
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Apr 17 2009 05:04 PM ET

'Idolatry': Three cheers for Kris Allen!

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Filed under: American Idol and tagged: ,

Attention, Idol fans: Idolatry is pleased to announce that Simon Cowell is officially under our control. Not only did the Brit with a chip sign up for Team Allison, he also interrupted the results show to undo Randy Jackson’s pitiful “critique” and salute Kris Allen’s standout performance of one of the best songs ever written.  We take it all back, Simon. For us for you, you worked it out–keep on keeping it real, Dawg. Kris deserves a few more props, though, and he gets them courtesy of Michael Slezak and Missy Schwartz in the video below. Press play and you’ll also find alternative career advice for Lil and a discussion of the “historic” save. Did Matt really deserve it? Will someone better get sent packing on Disco Week? If Allison’s one of them, will I finally break the Internet? Speaking of our amazing Wonder Girl, she and Adam only make cameos in the below episode. But fear not: Our eventual top two get more screen time in the next installment, posting Monday (I promise this time, y’all!). So check it out, let us know what you thought about Kris and Lil this week, and share any trepidation you have about the dreaded disco. Oh, and for the love of humanity, save the rocker.

Apr 17 2009 04:48 PM ET

'The Millionaire Matchmaker': Patti does have a heart!

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Filed under: Television and tagged: , ,

Well, we knew THE Millionaire Matchmaker (emphasis on the "the" because it’s said so prominently in the show’s opening sequence), Patti Stanger, was familiar with human emotion, because she’s so very successful at fixing up couples (even famous ones), but it was less clear just how much of that emotion extended inward toward her own heart. Until last night.

During one of Stanger’s token meet-and-greets, the millionaireslooking for love included Dr. Nettles, a plastic surgeon with a creepy, serial killer smile, and Michael Prozer, a Floridian with too many manly accessories and not enoughself-control when it came to his bladder. Then there was "model" Josie, apparently someone who Stanger set up before (though not sure howshe ever got past her with those horrible roots and pastel makeup), who barged into the mixer uninvited and refused to leave. When Stanger and her posse tried kicking her out, Josie screamed: "Why don’t YOU have a husband, Patti?..You’re 45-years-old and you can’t even get to ‘I Do’…Why do you think God has punished you and made you 45 and single?" Then Josie mumbled something about Patti’s boyfriend being from Sherman Oaks — I still have no idea why that matters — and eventually walked out. At this point, THE matchmaker looked like she was about to cry. It was a side of her we’d never been privy to before, and I found myself feeling empathetic and sort of surprised.

"The things she said about me, they kind of hurt my feelings," Stanger admitted to the ladies at the party. "I realized this year, at 47 — which I’m damn proud of — I don’t know if I’m ready to get married. Is that shocking that I can teach you but I don’t know if I want to get married?…Maybe I shouldn’t do this for a living."

First of all: Did we know that she was 47 before last night? WOW! Secondly: I wonder if all the criticism she’s been facing for trying to match people up but not being married herself has gotten to her? Sounds like she’s starting to feel the need to justify herself in public (did anyone else see that she actually brought her boyfriend to the A-List Awards on Wednesday night?).

Not to sound like a broken record, but you know what they say: those who can’t do, teach. PopWatchers, do you think Patti does really want to get married and is just pretending she doesn’t because it’s easier? Or you do you think she’s being sincere and really enjoys the "freedom"? Finally, should any of that actually matter — as Josie claimed it did — when it comes to Stanger’s matchmaking skills? Speak up below!

Apr 17 2009 04:06 PM ET

Happy Birthday, Posh Spice!

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Yes, I’m going to continue to call Victoria Beckham Posh Spice until the day I die, so deal with it. But today, I’m just going to refer to her as "birthday girl": It’s Posh’s 35th anniversary of reigning as completely fabulous on this planet!

To illustrate said fabulosity, I present a simple (and not-at-all high-quality) YouTube clip of Posh’s solo performance from 2008′s Spice Girls reunion tour. (I was there amongst the screaming throngs.) The other Spice ladies came out and sang actual songs — Ginger did her rendition of "It’s Raining Men," for instance — but no, no, not Posh! [Insert finger wag!] Her highness just rolled out and completely served in this gorgeous, crazy-train dress and basically vogued to Ru Paul’s "Supermodel (You Better Work)." Singing, my friends, is so pedestrian, and that’s why Posh gets serious PopWatch props on her birthday.

Could you just die that she still looks so great at 35? (Okay, so she was 34 then…) Still, j’adore.

More on Posh Spice/Victoria Beckham from WE:
All About Victoria Beckham
Re: Victoria Beck ham’s six-inch heels…
Q&A with Posh Spice

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