Remember when the Davids Cook and Archuleta got down in their undies for those Risky Business-inspired Guitar Hero commercials? And then Heidi Klum did the same thing, but in just a bra? This time, it's Michael Phelps, Kobe Bryant, Alex Rodriguez, and Tony Hawk executing the same exact concept in Love's Baby Soft pink shirts. But HELLO. Kobe is not following the tighty-whiteys rule at all. He thinks he can wear long-ass basketball shorts just because that's what his sport allows? By that logic, Phelps should be rockin' the full-length LZR Racer bodysuit. (No, I did not have to look that up.) At least A-Rod is wearing amusingly inseamed ump shorts, Phelps appears to be as aired-out down there as Cook was, and for all we know Hawk is going commando under that drum set. Get it together, Kobe! I liked you better when you endorsed Nutella.
Be sure to let us know when the next celebrity-studded Guitar Hero commercial airs, so we can continue to needlessly shill for them as much as possible. Jeez.
Okay, dance masters -- who's going to take home TV's most insignificant trophy tomorrow night: the hyper-extended Brooke Burke, surprising lover of sequins Warren Sapp, or no one's favorite '90s boy bander, Lance Bass? This morning, I participated in AOL Television's 'DWTS' Winner Predictions gallery with my prognosis: Lance. I think our little cosmonaut will surprise everyone by winning and then immediately shooting up into space with his new mirror-ball bauble. They'll probably have to whittle his trophy into a trapezoid to make it as "edgy" as he is. Meanwhile, I'd like to nominate Brooke's fringed pants (pictured, duh, you cannot look away) for Best And By Best I Obviously Mean Worst DWTS Costuming Atrocity Of The Season (BABBIOMWDWTSCAOTS). It's a very competitive category. For more on DWTS, be sure to check out my always illuminating[ly tacky] TV Watch tomorrow morning.
Who do you think will win DWTS, and which costume gets your vote for BABBIOMWDWTSCAOTS?
Am I the only one whose bizarre mind immediately jumps to the 1994 daddy/daughter "comedy" My Father the Hero whenever she hears Katherine Heigl's name? The Gerard Depardieu-on-Bahamian-vacation vehicle is one of those horrible movies I can't help watching whenever it's on basic cable, which is always. I recall being utterly horrified by her white one-piece thong bathing suit in the film, as I apparently took My Father the Hero so seriously that I thought this was the type of swimwear I should be sporting at 14 as well. By no means was I mentally, emotionally, and most of all physically ready to do this. Little did I know, all that worry was unnecessary...to this day, I've never seen anyone wear this s*** in public. Anyway. Happy birthday!
The hair? Check. The outfit? Not wrecked. Heck, everything about this video is correct. The lyrics? They're cool. Cee-Lo? He's no fool. Not even a toilet scene breaks the rules. The song's a delight. The vocals are tight. Too bad Beyoncé just stole the spotlight.
"Looks like she might be a Mennonite." --The man cast as "Web designer" on a recent rerun of Canadian makeover series Style by Jury. (The show, my new all-out obsession, airsweekdays at noon on NBC in NYC.) Seriously, look it up and just watch the "jury" segments at the beginning of each episode. This show is going to be on my Must List forever.
If you're reading this blog, chances are you're a voracious book reader, music listener, moviegoer, TV viewer, and (quite possibly) style watcher. But if anyone ever told you your pop-culture consumption over the past 11 months was a vain pursuit, well, now is your chance to prove 'em wrong. Yes, PopWatchers, Entertainment Weekly is planning its annual Best and Worst of 2008 issue, and we want your picks for the best (and worst) movies, TV shows, albums (and singles), books, and style from this delightful calendar year. For me, the first nominees that popped into my head were from the small screen: a whip-smart (and often hilarious) news program that not only won a spot on my DVR, but frequently got played before my fictional faves (Countdown With Keith Olbermann, the best) and a reality competition so awful, I was awestruck once a week all summer long when I saw it perched atop the Nielsen ratings chart (America's Got Talent, the worst). My other right-off-the-top-of-my-head picks: Little Jackie's The Stoop (best CD) (that's the band in the upper left corner of our picture) and Janet Jackson's disastrous tour outfit (worst style). Perhaps the sight of that gold-casing heinoustry in the mirror every night led to the health woes that caused Miss Jackson to cancel so many tour dates this year?
But enough about my entertainment peaks and valleys from 2008 -- it's your turn to sound off. We'll be mining your comments to create polls that will be the basis for reader-generated portions of EW's Best and Worst issue, so nominate early (and often) on the message boards below!
From: Barrett, Annie To: Soll, Lindsay Subject: Liar liar crazyuncomfortableshoes on fire
I thought this would speak to you. From Page Six: "Manolo Blahnik has never seen the TV version of Sex and the City and only recently watched the movie in a hotel room."
Are you outraged? I'm merely amused.
*********************** From: Soll, Lindsay To: Barrett, Annie Subject: Re: Liar liar crazyuncomfortableshoes on fire
Hahaha not outraged but how can that be?
His name is spoken more on that show than the word "orgasm"!!!
I don't LARP (Live Action Role-Play), but after seeing Role Models and thinking it might be fun to plot against a king (and, okay, wield a foam sword), I could be talked into a day of LAIRE (Live Action Interactive Roleplaying Explorers) on several conditions:
1) Like the countrymen of KISS-My-Anthia, my costume could be non-traditional/badass.
2) Someone would volunteer to sew my non-traditional/badass costume. (And also to forge my sword and bedazzle its handle like one of Mariah's mikes.)
3) I wouldn't have to run.
What about you? What would it take to get you in the live action role-playing game? And while we're talking about Role Models, vote for the actor who made you laugh the hardest in our poll below. Going into the movie, I was sure it'd be Bobb'e J. Thompson, a.k.a. foul-mouthed Ronnie. But there's a reason Seann William Scott landed in the center of The Bullseye in EW's latest issue. (And it's not because we watched him admit that he likes David Archuleta's "Crush" on VH1'sTop 20 Video Countdown over the weekend -- though we do love that. It's because of the way he delivered that line asking if the "get out of jail free card" was based on something real.) Paul Rudd is a contender, thanks to his campfire story. Jane Lynch is a scene-stealer as Sturdy Wings' director and an ex-cocaine addict. And seriously, Christopher Mintz-Plasse (pictured, as LAIRE-loving Augie) really does look like a young Marvin Hamlisch.
On last night's stellar Ugly Betty, both Jesse (Val Emmich) and Betty (America Fererra) uttered a catchphrase I'll be incorporating into my vernacular: "You're a snow day." How sweet is that? So simple and so powerful all at the same time. I'm just thinking about how, especially back in my school days, a snow day would make everything better. And that's the idea here, obvs.
But last night's best Betty sound bites, as usual, didn't come from Betty herself. This week, Marc (Michael Urie) ruled with sassy lines referencing everything from Dick Cheney to Barbra Streisand. So that's why this week's Ugly Betty Bites video is an all-Marc edition! (Okay, there's a teeny bit of Vanessa Williams' sublime Wilhelmina throw in for good measure.) Enjoy the video, then vote for your favorite Marc bon mot in our PopWatch poll. And, of course, a round-up of all the other genius lines of the night -- and a bonus picture of Willy's Fashion Moment of the Week -- are after the jump. Don't see the quip you loved in the list? Please slap it up in the comments section!
My pal Kristen Baldwin sent me a frantic IM this morning: "Turn on The View. NOW!" Really, her message should have come with a warning -- "What you are about to see may result in trembling, emotional scarring, and possible collapse." But since I got blindsided by the sight of the show's hosting panel in frightening Halloween drag, why should you be spared, PopWatchers? After the jump, check out closeup screengrabs of Barbara Walters as George Washington, Elisabeth Hasselbeck as Ronald Reagan, Sherri Shepherd as a penny, er, I mean Abraham Lincoln, Whoopi Goldberg as FDR, and Joy Behar as Teddy Roosevelt. And do vote in our exclusive PopWatch poll to tell us which costume freaks you out the most.
With Project Runway's potential move to Lifetime still mired in court, Bravo has picked up another fashion design reality series with a working title so basic and broad it might as well be footage of adorable little kids playing dress-up. In The Fashion Show, viewers will choose their favorite designer, who will get to sell his or her clothes via a retailer. Bravo's also developing Celebrity Sew-Off, in which famous people compete to see who has the ability to launch their own clothing label (I believe the answer is "Everyone, because they have tons and tons of cash") as well as three other potential fashion-related series. At this rate, I'm fully expecting a series called Sew What?, which will follow a select few of the brattiest Runway contestants (like Kenley, pictured) as they petulantly refuse to obey instructions from Michael Kors, who will host. Seriously, that man has to host something.
What do you think, PopWatchers? Is there such a thing as too much fashion on TV? Do these new programs have any chance of filling the Project Runway void on Bravo? What other cleverly titled shows should they consider doing?
Three new videos from three popular divas. Ch-ch-check 'em out, then click through past the jump to our poll questions about which clip (and which song) you like best.
Christina Aguilera, "Keeps Getting Better" Concept: Blonde, hoodie-wearing Xtina directs her bewigged alter-egos as they strut through a series of low-budget green-screen landscapes. Plusses: Dancing "plasma blobs" should be required in every video forever; floral minidress sequence reminiscent of Estée Lauder ad featuring Madonna's "Love Profusion"; kinda digging the funky mini robot, too. Minuses: Dime-store hairpieces hardly appropriate for A-list recording artist; catwoman ensemble looks like rejected uniform for underground wrestling competitor; how many more motorcycle/convertible video montages must a nation of music lovers endure before fresh concepts are embraced by major-label artists? Accompanying song: Hellaciously hot dance track has been in constant rotation on my iPod for several weeks now.
Mariah Carey, "I Stay in Love" Concept: Vegas showgirl's longing for and jealousy over her fit, fabulous ex-beau reaches boiling point, results in vehicular explosion. Plusses: Gorgeous cinematography, hot boots, and let's be honest, Mariah's bod looks totally smokin', even if her entire wardrobe should be donated to a charity benefiting teenage strumpets and/or truck-stop hookers. Also: That Wentworth Miller 2.0 ain't hard on the eyes, either. Minuses: Murky plotting and many burning questions: How come Mariah's showgirl moves are so lethargic? Why does Mariah drive to the middle of the desert to explode the car, then leave herself stranded? How come the one-time happy couple's bed is also located in the middle of the desert? Plus, there's that played-out "diva driving with the top down" device again! Accompanying song: A slower, less addictive variation on "We Belong Together"
Hilary Duff, "Reach Out" Concept: One-time Disney star attempts to reinvent self as adult sex-symbol by cavorting in seedy mansion setting with scantily clad, disembodied man-meat. Plusses: Can't think of anything good to say about the video, but at least the track features an insanely catchy sample of "Personal Jesus." Minuses: Sadly, that Depeche Mode sample is brutalized and left lifeless by the side of the road by the end of "Reach Out." As for the video clip, where to start? The gray, fetid-looking grapes and other assorted foodstuffs that serve as the backdrop to Duff's bacchanal? The way the fingerprinty mirror makes my heart and soul cry out for a big bottle of Windex and a roll of paper towels? The attempts to pay fashion tributes to Madonna's "Like a Virgin" wedding dress and any of ex-boyfriend Joel Madden's unfortunate hats? Or, as my colleague Shirley Halperin disgustedly points out, the general American apparel-ness of the whole sordid video? Accompanying song: Gah!
Yesssss. After week 6 of Dancing With the Stars, Fringe is beating Sequins 37-35 in my all-important seasonal tally! Press play below for my first-ever Costuming Spotlight of the Week. Susan Lucci is demonstrating how ferociously she would press play. But you can just click your mouse.
For more hard-hitting analysis, including a a filler segment called ''Three Reasons I Suddenly Love Cloris Leachman, Just In Time For Her Elimination," read today's DWTS TV Watch.
"Is this how we dress for the office? You look like a blood clot." --Sadie Shelton (Bette Midler) to an employee wearing a red-and-black dress, in Big Business
Róisín Murphy, Irish dance-pop chanteuse and my personal Jesus (for real -- check out this killer desktop background), played Friday night at NYC's The Mansion as part of CMJ. I'm happy to report that Róisín donned the same white mock turtleneck she rocks in the "Let Me Know" video, enabling many quick-and-easy outfit changes. She strutted out first in a spangly black cape thing, then -- seemingly inspired by her own lyric, "You know what to expect" -- she showed off what all of us superfans were really waiting for. TYPICALLY INSANE/AWESOME COSTUMES! I'm still torn on what my favorite overcoat of hers was -- the white, feathery fur one with the poofy shoulders, or the plaid one that featured a big ol' deer built into the shoulders (pictured)? There's really no need to decide.
I believe I spilled the most cocktail onto my nice winter coat when Róisín launched into her former band Moloko's lovelorn anthem "Forever More." But for me, the best part of the concert came at the end of my favorite song from Overpowered, "Primitive." Here, Róisín engaged in a full-on freakout, wrestling with the mic stand, a bandmate, and eventually just the entire venue's collective despair that the song was over. You can check out a video of that noise after the jump -- but beware, I'm screaming a lot in it. And the quality's poor. And I swear at the end. But who cares? It was a moment. We are animal, one and all.
Thanks for hitting the States again, my sparkly European idol. Y'all come back now, y'hear? (And please play in Chicago!)
After a couple of serious episodes, Ugly Betty roared back last night with a quip-filled episode of pure fun. Lindsay Lohan was back as Kimmie Kegan! Wilhelmina (Vanessa Williams) and Daniel (Eric Mabius) went on a date! Marc (Michael Urie) and Amanda (Becki Newton) were as nasty as ever! The target of most of the jabs: Betty (America Fererra), of course! And I've rounded up those jabs here. Watch our video of the top three bites of the night, and then cast a vote for your fave in our poll below. A digest of the best lines follow the jump -- if I missed some of your faves, let me know on the message board!
In case you missed it earlier in the week, Dancing With the Stars pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who claims he has never submitted to a spray tan (pshaw!), stopped by EW.com to deep-dish about season 7. Two more Maks videos, on a fictional web channel I like to call Chmerkovision, are embedded after the jump.
Oh, do you, Elle editor-in-chief Anne Slowey? Should they be chillier than your heart but not as frosted as your hair? Excellent. Last night's series premiere of The CW's Stylista introduced us to an already-trying-too-hard-just-by-showing-up crew of young wannabe journalists whose "lifelong dream" is to become a Junior Editor. Um, some free advice: THAT IS THE WORST LIFELONG DREAM I'VE EVER HEARD. The underlings spent most of the hour fetching breakfast for Slowey (pictured), shopping at H&M so that she wouldn't find them as heinous as she did when they wore their own, non-TV-sponsored clothes, and lolling around the fake Elle office/blatant TV set mocking each other's appearances moments after barely being introduced. We've got some real winners here, like Megan, who was "given a chunk of money" to open her own boutique at 22, and Kate, who spent most of the episode in tears because no one wanted to look at her giant boobs. No, literally that's all that happened until Sideshow Bob got eliminated for wearing a big-ass scarf but otherwise looking "boring."
Perhaps Stylista should be called High School Yearbook instead -- did anyone else start gagging at Group 2's puke-yellow mockup of a "contributors page defining your personal style"? My colleague, Tanner Stransky, and I were so inspired by its heinoustry, we created our own page that's even more lame and immature. Tell us which magazine you'd rather read, after the jump. WARNING: There will be jazz hands...
At first glance, Queen Elizabeth and LaToya Jackson might not have a lot in common, but if the two ladies ever get a chance to sit down together for a cup of tea, they can certainly share a laugh (or a huff) about the dubious distinction of having topped Mr. Blackwell's annual Worst Dressed List. (For the record, Elizabeth received her "honor" in 1969, while LaToya followed two decades later, in 1989).
Blackwell, who spent the past 48 years skewering the sartorial mistakes of the rich and famous with his patented brand of bitchery, died yesterday in his Los Angeles home at age 86. Sure, critics could dismiss the former actor and designer for achieving fame by targeting the most obvious fashion victims, but Blackwell also understood too well the joy of the takedown, of throwing some ridicule in the direction of wealthy, pampered celebrities who still manage to get it wrong even with teams of stylists, trainers, and makeup artists in their corners. (That said, last year, Blackwell gave Britney Spears a reprieve, citing difficulties in her personal life.) And while Blackwell sometimes committed his own unspeakable crimes against rhymes -- last year's countdown included this groaner: "In layers of cut-rate kitsch, Mary Kate [Olsen]'s look is hard to explain…she resembles a tattered toothpick, trapped in a hurricane!" -- there was something undeniably comforting about encountering the predictably loopy lists he'd been issuing every January since 1960 (when Italian actress Anna Magnani ranked No. 1). DListed, Go Fug Yourself, and other gossip blogs went on to do it funnier (and meaner), but Blackwell certainly blazed the trail for those of us who get as much (if not more) satisfaction from reading a Worst Dressed list as a Best Dressed countdown.
After the jump, check out the last decade of Blackwell's honorees, and click here for the Associated Press's full roster of Blackwell's Worst Dressed from 1960-2007.
Hey, everyone -- I'm out of the closet! It's a miracle. After realizing we were the only two here who caught Real Housewives last night, Tanner Stransky and I decided the only way to truly analyze last night's janky episode was to talk about cake. Press play, below. Tanner's wearing shades because he's worried people will recognize him now. Psych! He's wearing shades because he's a weirdo.
We'll obviously keep watching Atlanta because we like dessert so much, but what did you think of last night's episode? Did the endless plots about Lisa's spec houses and DeShawn's potential support staff turn you off, or will you stick around for a potential NeNe vs. Sheree all-out brawl?
Tonight, we find out who wins Season 5 of Project Runway, and honestly, after watching the videos Bravo posted of Kenley's, Korto's, and Leanne's Bryant Park shows (embedded after the jump, spoilerphobes), I'm torn. So you decide: Who will win? Who should win?
Spend all the money on sets and costumes and lighting that you want, Britney, but Ms. Knowles' video kicks your video's ass, at what appears to be a fraction of the budget. (Plus, B's mechanical hand beats your sauna writhing.) Check out "Single Ladies" and "Womanizer" for yourself, then vote in our poll below. (And when you're done, click past the jump for a bonus poll from my colleague Annie Barrett; then jump over to our hot new music blog, Margeaux's Mix, to get the talented Ms. Watson's take on Britney's latest!)
According to The Hollywood Reporter, America's Next Top Model's Jay Manuel and J. Alexander will shoot a pilot for The CW called Operation Fabulous: They will "travel the country giving women makeovers. In
various towns, the duo will select five participants and give them Top Model-style overhauls — how to dress, wear their hair and
makeup and bring out their confidence with the support of family,
friends and their community."
My head is spinning. "With the support of family, friends and their community" sounds a little too earnest for the Jays, doesn't it? I buy that Tim Gunn and Carson Kressley care about my confidence — these two, not so much. But don't get me wrong: While I would never go on this show, I'm totally watching it. Just think of all the 20-year-olds squealing at the sight of Alpha and Beta (and their confused family, friends, and communities), of the skits we'll be seeing (bring. back. Prince. Couture!), of the title sequence (fatigues would be too obvious, so I predict they'll go with sleek Matrix-esque ensembles, in white).
If you were helping Alpha and Beta develop their show, what advice would you give them?
You should unequivocally be tarred and feathered if you're silly enough to tune in to the third iteration of a television show, like Bravo's newest Housewives spin-off, The Real Housewives of Atlanta. How stupid does Bravo think we viewers are? It's the same show with different faces and wrapping! But, um, I watched the premiere last night. And, erm, it was completely worth it.
Honestly, Atlanta is essentially the same as Orange County and New York City, but it's fabulously ridiculous, so who cares, right? In true Housewives fashion, the newest ladies—DeShawn, Kim, NeNe (pictured), Lisa, and Shereé—are total she-beasts dripping in new money and all the things it can buy 'em. Kim wrote a $68,763 check on the spot for a new Cadillac Escalade. "Do I know if that's a fair price or not?" she questioned. "No. Am I driving off the lot in five minutes? Yes." J'adore her money-is-no-object attitude!
The twist in Atlanta is that there's this whole sports-wives thing going on. Three of the ladies (DeShawn, Shereé, and Lisa) are married to—or divorced from—an NBA or NFL star. From the promos, it looks like there's gonna be some throwing down about whether it's better to be an basketballer's wife or a footballer's wife. For no reason other than the fact that I like football more, I'm on Team NFL! The other two ladies (NeNe and Kim) are with businessmen. Or as the ever-apt NeNe so correctly put it, "Atlanta is the black Hollywood."
Based on that appetizing first episode, here are the three things I'm looking forward to seeing more of this season:
Oscar winner, lovable snob, and confirmed MILF Gwyneth Paltrow has done her share of celebrity shilling (Estée Lauder perfume, charity t-shirts, etc.), and we never minded. It’s not like she’s got a rich husband to pay the bills, right? But her deal with luxury haberdasher Tod’s is feeling a little ill-fated. First, Gwynnie got slammed by PETA this summer or wearing fur in a Tod’s ad. And now the actress stars in an unintentionally hilarious six minute short film (click here to watch it), written and directed by none other than Dennis Hopper. It’s a loopy love letter to Italian cinema, circus performers, and the Tod’s Pashmy Bag, and let me just say that the whole clip packs an extraordinarily high WTF-per-minute ratio; if Hopper was shooting for Fellini, he ended up with Farrelly. Check our minute-by-minute reactions after the jump, the let us know what you think:
How delicious was last night’s episode of Ugly Betty? Hands down, the best moment was the hammy flash-forward scene where we saw a future version of Betty (America Fererra) reimagined in the divalicious image of Wilhelmina (Vanessa Williams). Honestly, who requests a snack of carrot shavings? And that bit with the puppy at the end? Genius! The sequence produced at least one of the night’s best bites, which is one of the four moments included in our “Quote Off” video pitting the best Betty quips of the night against each other. Watch the video, then vote for your favorite in our poll below. The rest of the night’s best lines are after the jump. Oh, and don’t forget to leave your own comments telling me which of your favorites I missed!
We can't stop watching this crafty edit of last night's brat-tacular Project Runway, as Nina Garcia appeared to NOTE DOWN the once-in-a-lifetime occurrence of Kenley apologizing.
Do we really think Kenley grew up on a tugboat, or was that just the main character in the last children's book she read? Discuss, and for more Runway, be sure to read our TV Watch and watch Kenley's amazingly awkward call-in to BravoTV.com' weekly video series, After the Sew.
First of all, can we discuss Karen Darling's (Natalie Zea) dress at Nick's birthday party? Yeah, I know Simon Elder was all like "my new fuel can solve the energy crisis," but the greater scientific achievement was how that hella deep neckline plunge did not result in a wardrobe malfunction. No wonder all time and sound and breathing seemed to stop when she and Nick (Peter Krause) swept past each other with that meaningful glance. Sure, he'd seen her in her birthday suit (that + grappa = very thoughtful gift) earlier in the day in his office, yet somehow that the sight of her in that dress was significantly more scandalous.
Yet as much as I love love love Karen Darling -- I can almost hear her responding with a curt "Wow. Thank you. I think you're really neat, too." -- does anyone else find it totally obscene that she and her father have devised a corporate espionage scheme against Mr. Elder that involves her having sex with the guy? (Perhaps she's Tripp's favorite because, like him, she'll do anything to help the family business.) That final confrontation between Karen and Simon -- the one where he kept referencing her "Daddy" -- made me shudder a little, although I appreciate the fact that the writers remain staunchly ambiguous as to whether Karen's feelings for Simon are, in fact, real (see: returned vial of fuel) or if her character is a terrific actress with ice running through her veins (see: stolen crystal swan). And I was glad to see that crystal swan incident meant Simon doesn't quite have the emotional and intellectual advantage he thinks he does. Team Karen!
One of the best parts of Ugly Betty is the campy show’s hilarious, over-the-top quips from its cast of crazy characters. Remember how you almost choked on your extra-skinny latte when Wilhelmina (Vanessa Williams) uttered the now-classic line “Did you just gesture at me when you said Kwanzaa?” In that spirit, each week there’s a new episode of Betty, I’ll bring you a roundup of the best lines from the night before. Don't be surprised if Willy dominates them—she dominates everything!
Here’s the really fun part: We’ll also post a quick video of my top three for a Quote Off. Check it out below, then after the jump, get the rundown of my nine favorite sound bites from last night, and head to the comments section to vote for your faves (and tell me which ones I missed!).
Let's review, shall we? Things that are not hip-hop: Those high-waisted "mom jeans" that Kenley
designed for the hip-hop challenge on last night's Project Runway,
according to guest judge LL Cool J. Things that are SO hip-hop: Sears.com, according to a recent blog post by LL Cool J. Hmm. Uncle L made the latter contention on his blog in response to some emails he has allegedly received about nefarious forces removing all copies of his new CD, Exit 13, from stores. (I'd check this charge out for myself, but lately there don't seem to be any actual record stores left on the remote rural island where I live. The further handiwork of LL's enemies, I presume?) Exhorted LL: "just in case you know someone who can't seem to locate the new LLCOOLJ album EXIT 13. Send them to iTunes or sears.com." Right, right. Wait, Sears.com?!
But don't forget! In addition to being a historic gathering place for true-school rap heads, Sears.com is also where LL's new clothing line is sold. Yes, yes, y'all: Only at Sears can you buy stylin' LL-branded items like this juniors Layered Argyle blouse (pictured), or these Studded Skull Jeans. All that plus his new CD — how convenient! If only Sears.com retailed LL's new Old Spice "Swagger" deodorant, too.
Anyway, I think I may now have a slightly better idea of why LL wrote that random post about his supposedly disappearing CDs in the first place, but far be it from me to impugn his motives. So you tell me: Which do you think is more authentically hip-hop — that Sears.com couture, or the outfit Kenley designed on Runway last night? While I await your verdict I'll be straight chillin' over at Sears.com, where hip-hop lives.
Last night's seventh season premiere of CSI: Miami reminded me of when I was eight years old, playing with my Fisher-Price figures, and making up little stories that would typically end with everyone getting trampled by a dinosaur or some such nonsense. The story arcs playing out on my bedroom floor made sense to no one but me, and any sense of logic and/or continuity was subject to my whim, and that was okay. I was eight. My tricked-out Fisher-Price barn door was not mooing for 16 million people.
The problem with David Caruso's sun-drenched CSI spinoff, of course, is that actually is viewed by such a massive audience, and therefore should not play out as if it were written by a committee of third-graders shouting: "And then Horatio could get shot!" "But then it turns out he's not dead!" "Yeah, because he staged the shooting so the gang members out to kill him would let down their guard!" "And Horatio needs to stop them because they've just gotten shipments of 'fused alloy' bullets!" "And his ex-wife's husband could be dealing the bullets!" "And in the end the boat could blow up with a huge explosion!" "But then they can't find the body!" "So Horatio takes off his shades!"
Seriously, I know CSI: Miami is supposed to be pure escapism, but I remember a time (back in the early seasons) when its plots made sense, and didn't leave me howling with laughter. (The night's funniest sight gag: Adam Rodriguez and Emily Procter trying to trace a gangster's phone number using a hologram-esque computer program that looked like it came off the set of Minority Report.)
Not that it matters, but here are a few of my burning questions from last night's ep:
Why, after accidentally allowing violent felon/gang leader (José Zúñiga) to escape, did Eric take a quick meeting with Horatio in a parking garage, then interview an unrelated suspect, before returning to the scene and using a trail of blood to try to track down said baddie? (Like, wouldn't you rather the escaped con only had a five-minute head start instead of a five-hour one?) Why, if Horatio wanted to create the illusion that he was dead (even among his co-workers) did he show up at the police station and chat with Eric after he'd interrogated a suspect? And on a similar note, why did Horatio think that taking all his meetings in an open stretch of swampland left him immune to detection? Finally, where can I buy that hellaciously stylin' red-and-white patterned shirt Rodriguez wore throughout the entire episode? (Seriously, I want to know!)
Here it is, PopWatchers! The 2008 Emmys pre-show live blog, brought to you by Michael Slezak, Mandi Bierly, Chad Schlegel, and Couture Correspondent™ Meeta Agrawal. Enjoy!
Slezak: Alrighty guys, it's 7 p.m., which means we can no longer turn away from
the red-carpet heinoustries happening on E! (I saw Ryan Seacrest asking
Steve Carell about "enlarged balls" during hour 1 of the telecast,
and thus I placed this item under "The Bad Man Scares Me"). On the count of three, let's unmute our televisions and let the mockery begin!
Mandi: Jennifer Love Hewitt says the Ghost Whisperer set is haunted. One of the spirits must have given her a spray tan when she was sleeping in her trailer.
Slezak: Dana Delany is going to drink after the Emmys. Which means it's okay for me to have some wine right now, yes?
Chad: I'm waaay ahead of you.
Slezak: Also, her dress is made from the walls of Studio 54 "vintage from Lily et Cie."
Slezak: Giuliana would not be doing her job if she didn't ask about a SATC sequel. Or make mindless comments about handbags.
Mandi: There is clearly no one on the carpet if we're seeing J. Love AGAIN.
Slezak: I just heard Cynthia Nixon use the phrase "rediscover the joy in her life." I don't care for that.
Mandi: Patrick Dempsey just used the phrase "right on." I like that.
Change the lame headline, change the lame headline.... No. Not gonna. Hey, all -- just a heads-up that you'll want to be RIGHT HERE at EW.com for everything Emmys this weekend. We'll have lots of lil' videos from Saturday night's EW party starting on Sunday morning. Later, as EW staffers report from backstage and in the audience on Twitter, Mandi and Slezak will graciously chain themselves, kicking and screaming, to hours of life-consuming live-blog duty starting with the last hour of E!'s red carpet coverage at 7 p.m. ET. After that, we'll post our usual backstage report and "Best and Worst Moments" photo gallery (check out the 2007 version for a trip down memory lane), plus a bonus red-carpet fashion awards gallery so you can marvel at L. Yeah (pictured)'s presumable excellent taste, or rip on Jane Krakowski if she decides to wear a new gown inspired by Dippin' Dotz or any other heavily processed food. (Fingers crossed!) On Monday, come back for plenty of exclusive red carpet videos from Michael Ausiello, plus a PopWatch discussion of the winners and who got snubbed.
During a screening last night of The Duchess (which opens Friday), I could barely focus on the plot (something about babies?) because I was physically unable to remove my eyes from any of the women's lusciously extravagant outfits. It didn't even matter who the character was -- in fact, when my screening buddy harped about Hayley Atwell's Lady Bess Foster, I was all, "Oh, I loved her..." and then in a soft, wistful whisper, added, "hats." So many of the puffed dresses resembled really elaborate cakes, but not 21st century cakes trying too hard to look vintage. More like musty old layer cakes comprised of authentic 18th-century Devonshire baking materials, then painted in earth tones using well water. Basically, I'm recommending you see a movie solely to stare at clothes that look like cake. I'm fired.
Your turn: Which movies, TV shows, music, books,
websites, or games are on your Must List? Please include your
e-mail address, in case we elect to use your suggestion in the
magazine. Deadline is tomorrow, September 18, at 3 p.m. ET.
Sure, the fifth season of the Bravo 24-hour fashion show hasn't exactly been a fan favorite, but you wouldn't know that from the crowd -- 900 strong -- elbowing to get into the tent at Bryant Park for the taping of the finale this morning. (And we're talking 8:30-in-the-morning morning.) It was a fabulous mix of fashion elite, the Bravo Alumni Club (we counted contestants from every Runway past, Rachel Zoe, that Make Me a Supermodel cutie, and so many others) and a few random celebs to light up the front row (hellooo, Michelle Trachtenberg and, uh, Judith Light!).
Once the air kisses subsided, Runway’s own glamazon Heidi Klum took the stage to welcome the crowds, and bade a seemingly reluctant auf Wiedersehen to Bravo and the Magical Elves. She also announced the one surprise of the morning -- all the whispers that Jennifer Lopez would be filling Victoria Posh Beckham’s size 00 sheath as the guest judge at the finale were true...until they weren’t. After a mysterious foot injury (perhaps somewhere between the Marc Jacobs and Oscar de la Renta shows she attended earlier this week?) La Lopez had canceled, leaving Tim Gunn to join the judging panel. For the First. Time. Ever.
After last week’s surprise ankling (that one’s for you, J.Lo!) of two contestants, all six remaining designers showed collections. But it wasn’t too hard to figure out who were the red herrings and who would be joining Jay McCarroll and Christian Siriano (both of whom were in attendance this morning) in the Runway hall of fame. But since it’s possible our crystal ball is a little fogged over this morning, check out the best and worst looks from each designer after the jump, and let us know who you think will be in and who will be out.
[In case that wasn't clear, there will be spoilers galore after the jump. So please don't yell at me when you click below and see spoilers. No, really.]
I love Rihanna. I love her fashion sense. I even loved the loony ensemble she wore for her "Disturbia" performance at last night's VMAs and I don't really understand all the criticism she's getting for it. It's not like she wore this outfit to accept the Nobel Prize; she wore it during a performance at an awards show where spectacle is everything. And it was a themed performance. She was supposed to be scary! The song ain't called "Adorablia." She looked like a sweet girl who, clearly from the tattered ballerina-esque train in the back, was attacked by the people of Disturbia. Or was she their queen? Oh well. It's okay, Rihanna. I understood what you were trying to go for. And that's really all that matters.
At least you didn't decide to show up channeling Linda Hogan as Christina Aguilera seemingly did.
Leave it to Out.com to compile The 100 Gayest, Greatest Albums (of All Time), or "the seminal, flamboyant, trailblazing, gender-bending, campy,
theatrical, audacious, unforgettable albums that changed our lives." The Out editors polled actors, comedians, musicians, critics, DJs for their picks, but judging from that list, they could've forgone all that work and just posted a photo of my iPod instead. I'm pretty sure it could rank as one of the gayest iPods in all the land. I got a chuckle out of their choice for #100, the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (pictured), for which manager Brian Epstein's gay sensibility helped fine-tune the soaring melodies -- and (I know this is a stretch) was maybe a teensy bit responsible for those suits. Thank you, good sir, for both gifts. To be clear, Out's list encompasses music by both gay artists and straight ones who happened to put out reeeeeeeeally gay masterpieces. Speaking of which...to cap off the week, we should come up with The Gayest, Greatest Live Performances (of All Time). Here, I'll get this PopWatch Dance Party started...
Any other nominations? I'd like these to consume the rest of my afternoon (otherwise, I'll spend the next three hours letting Ladytron's 604 convince me I'm bi-curious), so be a pal. Did I mention you look fabulous today, as usual? Cheers queers.
They're baaaa-aaaack...Quick! Starting at 8 p.m. EST, decide which bold-faced declaration describes your current esophageal condition, then start drinking every time...
I'M NOT THIRSTY *Jay Manuel wears something that is not blindingly, garishly metallic *You wonder whatever happened to Twiggy *A model uses a complete sentence
I'M DEHYDRATED *Alaska Girl rattles off another item she didn't have while growing up *Photos of Tyra -- real or superimposed -- appear, anywhere *A huge earring weighs a model's noggin way too far to one side during a confessional *The group squeals in unison at something worthless
I WANNA GET HAMMERED *Tyra mentions herself
SPOILER ALERT: You may wish to mix your liquor with Tang. Oh, hell no! Discuss the premiere here tonight, then come back for Mandi Bierly's most excellent TV Watch in the morning!
We members of the LolliPopWatch Guild wish to celebrate Meinhardt Raabe, famous munchkin coroner and author of Memories of a Munchkin: An Illustrated Walk Down Yellow Brick Road, who turns 93 today. Those with no inner child and/or a lot of work to get done: You can jump ahead to Raabe's shining moment at 3:42 in the below video. But are you sure you belong here? We'll have to ask Mayor Slezak of PopWatchland if you're allowed to stay. (Annie, the Wicked Hungry Witch of the Eat, says it's okay, since we're surrounded by candy and she's distracted.)
Raabe's a brave one. If I had to do photo ops like these on a semi-regular basis, let's just say the constant reminder of impending doom would have killed me already.
Nominations for offices of the esteemed LolliPopWatch Guild will be considered, below.
In my B+ review of Solange Knowles' Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams in this Friday's issue of EW, I selected the buoyant "Sandcastle Disco" as the disc's standout track. With its jaunty lyrics and instantly memorable hook, the song deserves to be the kind of hit that will establish Solange as an artist in her own right, not just an asterisk on her famous sister Beyoncé's Wikipedia page (or a brutally funny punchline on Dlisted). That's why it pains me so that the accompanying video has turned out to be a mélange of disparate yet uniformly unfortunate ingredients. Listing the clip's myriad defects all by myself seems too cruel, so I'll just pick the one that I find most egregious: The "Solange's Can I Sing Soup" label that pops up in the Warholian set piece about a third of the way into the video. I mean, bad enough that the imagery kind of conjures up a "will sing for canned goods" vibe, but the choice of a question ("can I sing") over the affirmative ("I can sing!") pretty much begs for a rousing chorus of "Nos!" from the haters' gallery. Sigh.
Now it's your turn: Pick your favorite flaw in the "Sandcastle Disco" video, and try to limit yourself to only one. To add to the challenge, be sure not to repeat any of your fellow PopWatchers' choices. Fret not: There are plenty of visual heinoustries to go around!
Headlining the "news" right now: Michael Phelps' mom, Debbie, is in talks with clothing company Chico's for an endorsement deal. Not familiar with Chico's? You definitel
Okay, dance masters -- who's going to take home TV's most insignificant trophy tomorrow night: the hyper-extended Brooke Burke, surprising lover of sequins Warren Sapp, or no one's favorite '90s boy bander, Lance Bass? This morning, I participated in 
If you're reading this blog, chances are you're a voracious book reader, music listener, moviegoer, TV viewer, and (quite possibly) style watcher. But if anyone ever told you your pop-culture consumption over the past 11 months was a vain pursuit, well, now is your chance to prove 'em wrong. Yes, PopWatchers, Entertainment Weekly is planning its annual Best and Worst of 2008 issue, and we want your picks for the best (and worst) movies, TV shows, albums (and singles), books, and style from this delightful calendar year. For me, the first nominees that popped into my head were from the small screen: a whip-smart (and often hilarious) news program that not only won a spot on my DVR, but frequently got played before my fictional faves (Countdown With Keith Olbermann, the best) and a reality competition so awful, I was awestruck once a week all summer long when I saw it perched atop the Nielsen ratings chart (America's Got Talent, the worst). My other right-off-the-top-of-my-head picks: Little Jackie's The Stoop (best CD) (that's the band in the upper left corner of our picture) and Janet Jackson's disastrous tour outfit (worst style). Perhaps the sight of that gold-casing heinoustry in the mirror every night led to the health woes that caused Miss Jackson to cancel so many tour dates this year?
From: Barrett, Annie
I don't 
My pal Kristen Baldwin sent me a frantic IM this morning: "Turn on The View. NOW!" Really, her message should have come with a warning -- "What you are about to see may result in trembling, emotional scarring, and possible collapse." But since I got blindsided by the sight of the show's hosting panel in frightening Halloween drag, why should you be spared, PopWatchers? After the jump, check out closeup screengrabs of Barbara Walters as George Washington, Elisabeth Hasselbeck as Ronald Reagan, Sherri Shepherd as a penny, er, I mean Abraham Lincoln, Whoopi Goldberg as FDR, and Joy Behar as Teddy Roosevelt. And do vote in our exclusive PopWatch poll to tell us which costume freaks you out the most.
With Project Runway's potential move to Lifetime still 
"Is this how we dress for the office? You look like a blood clot." --Sadie Shelton (Bette Midler) to an employee wearing a red-and-black dress, in Big Business 
Róisín Murphy, Irish dance-pop chanteuse and my personal Jesus (for real -- check out this killer 
Oh, do you, Elle editor-in-chief Anne Slowey? Should they be chillier than your heart but not as frosted as your hair? Excellent. Last night's series premiere of The CW's Stylista introduced us to an already-trying-too-hard-just-by-showing-up crew of young wannabe journalists whose "lifelong dream" is to become a Junior Editor. Um, some free advice: THAT IS THE WORST LIFELONG DREAM I'VE EVER HEARD. The underlings spent most of the hour fetching breakfast for Slowey (pictured), shopping at H&M so that she wouldn't find them as heinous as she did when they wore their own, non-TV-sponsored clothes, and lolling around the fake Elle office/blatant TV set mocking each other's appearances moments after barely being introduced. We've got some real winners here, like Megan, who was "given a chunk of money" to open her own boutique at 22, and Kate, who spent most of the episode in tears because no one wanted to look at her giant boobs. No, literally that's all that happened until Sideshow Bob got eliminated for wearing a big-ass scarf but otherwise looking "boring." 
At first glance, Queen Elizabeth and LaToya Jackson might not have a lot in common, but if the two ladies ever get a chance to sit down together for a cup of tea, they can certainly share a laugh (or a huff) about the dubious distinction of having topped Mr. Blackwell's annual Worst Dressed List. (For the record, Elizabeth received her "honor" in 1969, while LaToya followed two decades later, in 1989).
Why? 
Tonight, we find out who wins Season 5 of Project Runway, and honestly, after watching the videos Bravo posted of Kenley's, Korto's, and Leanne's Bryant Park shows (embedded after the jump, spoilerphobes), I'm torn. So you decide: Who will win? Who should win?
According to 
You should unequivocally be tarred and feathered if you're silly enough to tune in to the third iteration of a television show, like Bravo's newest Housewives spin-off, The Real Housewives of Atlanta. How stupid does Bravo think we viewers are? It's the same show with different faces and wrapping! But, um, I watched the premiere last night. And, erm, it was completely worth it. 
Oscar winner, lovable snob, and confirmed MILF Gwyneth Paltrow has done her share of celebrity shilling (Estée Lauder perfume, charity t-shirts, etc.), and we never minded. It’s not like she’s got a 
First of all, can we discuss Karen Darling's (Natalie Zea) dress at Nick's birthday party? Yeah, I know Simon Elder was all like "my new fuel can solve the energy crisis," but the greater scientific achievement was how that hella deep neckline plunge did not result in a wardrobe malfunction. No wonder all time and sound and breathing seemed to stop when she and Nick (Peter Krause) swept past each other with that meaningful glance. Sure, he'd seen her in her birthday suit (that + grappa = very thoughtful gift) earlier in the day in his office, yet somehow that the sight of her in that dress was significantly more scandalous.
Let's review, shall we? Things that are not hip-hop: Those 
Last night's seventh season premiere of CSI: Miami reminded me of when I was eight years old, playing with my Fisher-Price figures, and making up little stories that would typically end with everyone getting trampled by a dinosaur or some such nonsense. The story arcs playing out on my bedroom floor made sense to no one but me, and any sense of logic and/or continuity was subject to my whim, and that was okay. I was eight. My tricked-out Fisher-Price barn door was not mooing for 16 million people. 
Here it is, PopWatchers! The 2008 Emmys pre-show live blog, brought to you by Michael Slezak, Mandi Bierly, Chad Schlegel, and Couture Correspondent™ Meeta Agrawal. Enjoy!
Change the lame headline, change the lame headline.... No. Not gonna. Hey, all -- just a heads-up that you'll want to be RIGHT HERE at EW.com for everything Emmys this weekend. We'll have lots of lil' videos from Saturday night's EW party starting on Sunday morning. Later, as EW staffers report from backstage and in the audience 
But Jerell, that hat is killing me.
During a screening last night of The Duchess (which opens Friday), I could barely focus on the plot (something about babies?) because I was physically unable to remove my eyes from any of the women's lusciously extravagant outfits. It didn't even matter who the character was -- in fact, when my screening buddy harped about Hayley Atwell's Lady Bess Foster, I was all, "Oh, I loved her..." and then in a soft, wistful whisper, added, "hats." So many of the puffed dresses resembled really elaborate cakes, but not 21st century cakes trying too hard to look vintage. More like musty old layer cakes comprised of authentic 18th-century Devonshire baking materials, then painted in earth tones using well water. Basically, I'm recommending you see a movie solely to stare at clothes that look like cake. I'm fired.
Sure, the fifth season of the Bravo 24-hour fashion show hasn't exactly been a fan favorite, but you wouldn't know that from the crowd -- 900 strong -- elbowing to get into the tent at Bryant Park for the taping of the finale this morning. (And we're talking 8:30-in-the-morning morning.) It was a fabulous mix of fashion elite, the Bravo Alumni Club (we counted contestants from every Runway past, Rachel Zoe, that Make Me a Supermodel cutie, and so many others) and a few random celebs to light up the front row (hellooo, Michelle Trachtenberg and, uh, Judith Light!).
I love Rihanna. I love her fashion sense. I even loved the loony ensemble she wore for her "Disturbia" performance at last night's VMAs and I don't really understand all the criticism she's getting for it. It's not like she wore this outfit to accept the Nobel Prize; she wore it during a performance at an awards show where spectacle is everything. And it was a themed performance. She was supposed to be scary! The song ain't called "Adorablia." She looked like a sweet girl who, clearly from the tattered ballerina-esque train in the back, was attacked by the people of Disturbia. Or was she their queen? Oh well. It's okay, Rihanna. I understood what you were trying to go for. And that's really all that matters.
Leave it to Out.com to compile 
Headlining the "news" right now: Michael Phelps' mom, Debbie, 
