Happy New Year!

Open Thread

What movies did you like this year, not like, were surprised that you didn't hate?

The movies for 2007 are here.
I was surprised Transformers was the number 3 movie of the year.

Poor Eve

Bette Davis on a stamp. If you haven't seen a Bette Davis flick, treat yourself to All About Eve. If Joan Crawford gets a stamp, is it with or without the hanger?



Photo, Source: AP

Hollywood Duds

I haven't heard of half of these movies, that didn't do so great this year.

“Assassination of Jesse James…” (Brad Pitt), $3.8 million
“In the Valley of Elah” (Charlize Theron), $6.7 million
“El Cantante” (Jennifer Lopez), $7.5 million
“A Mighty Heart” (Angelina Jolie), $9.1 million (Good movie)
“Rendition” (Reese Witherspoon), $9.7 million
“The Astronaut Farmer,” $11 million / “Mr. Woodcock” (Billy Bob Thornton), $25.8 million
“Evening” (Meryl Streep), $12.4 million
“Lions for Lambs” (Tom Cruise), $14.9 million
“Invasion” (Nicole Kidman), $15 million
“Next” (Nicolas Cage), $18 million (Never heard of it)
“Georgia Rule” (Jane Fonda), $18.9 million
“Reign Over Me” (Adam Sandler), $19.6 million
“Perfect Stranger” (Halle Berry), $23.7 million
“Nanny Diaries” (Scarlett Johansson), $25.9 million
“Mr. Brooks” (Kevin Costner), $28.4 million (Such a bad movie)
“Zodiac” (Jake Gyllenhaal), $33 million (A good movie, rent it)
“The Number 23” (Jim Carrey), $35.1 million
“The Heartbreak Kid” (Adam Sandler), $36.7 million
“The Brave One” (Jodie Foster), $36.7 million
“Stardust” (Claire Danes), $38.3 million
“The Kingdom” (Jamie Foxx), $47.4 million
“Evan Almighty” (Steve Carell), $100.2 million

More Divorces and Marriages

Married: Jimmy Fallon

Divorced: David Faustino (Married With Children)

Divorced: Marilyn Manson and Dito Von Teese

AP Top 10 Movies of the Year

I would rather post year-end lists than anything about stupid celebrities.

From AP Writer David Germain:

1. No Country For Old Men
2. Once
3. Juno
4. Away From Her
5. Into the Wild
6. American Gangster
7. Stardust
8. Starting Out in the Evening
9. The Band's Visit
10. Year of the Dog

Letterman Shows Them How It's Done

David Letterman will be returning next week with his writer's. His production company was able to negotiate with the union.

The Writers Guild of America hailed the accord with Letterman's production company, WorldWide Pants Inc., as a sign of the union's readiness to negotiate a deal with major film and TV studios to settle Hollywood's worst labor crisis in 20 years.

For now, the most certain outcome of Letterman's deal is it paves the way for his "Late Show," and "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," also owned by WorldWide Pants, to resume CBS broadcasts of fresh episodes with their writing staffs intact starting on Wednesday.

Photo, Source: Reuters

Cable Shows Doing Better Thanks to Strike

Rent the first season or Dexter, you will be hooked.

At least 1.4 million people didn't mind forking over the extra bucks for Showtime this month, considering that's how many people enjoyed the season-two finale of Dexter, giving the Golden Globe-nominated drama its biggest audience to date.



Photo, Source: EOnline

Stealing Brendan Fraser's Divorce Limelight

This comes as no surprise.

I think it was during the 60 Minutes interview that Robin Wright Penn, when asked about being marriend to Sean, gave a shoulder shrug and a "some days are good some days suck" answer or something like that. If they can't fake it for the cameras, then things must really be tense at home.

Maybe he never explained to her the visiting Eve in jail thing (remember that? what was that?)










Photo: People

Hollywood Marriage Divorce Cycle

It's like a Joni Mitchell song "and go round and round and round in the circle game". One couple divorces, another gets engaged or married and soon they will divorce. It's the circle of Hollywood marriages.

Brendan Fraser and wife Afton are divorcing after 9 years.

That annoying Jessica Alba is engaged to her babydaddy (which People.com embarassingly puts an "!" after that news like its a big deal or anyone gives a crap).

Juno

It seems like there have been few good flicks this year. Juno is one of them. It will be the Little Mary Sunshine of this year, whatever that means. The opening credits were just a tad too much Napolean Dynamite but what-evs.




Photo: Yahoo

National Treasure: Book of Secrets Tops Box Office

But what is on top of Nicholas Cage's head? I think its time for the Bruce Willis cut, Nic.

National Treasure takes in $45 million. It has a rating of Rotten (36%) on Rotten Tomatoes.com.



Photo: Reuters

Rick on TMZ

Rick Springfield made the TMZ web site...sure it was for a Remember Them segment, but still. Better than nothing. Although, is he wearing one of those dorky Blue Tooth things?
Rick in Malibu.



Photo: TMZ

Brad and Angelina in New Orleans

Can we all agree that they are not doing this for the publicity? I don't think they would still be this involved, years later, if they didn't honestly care. I mean, they're on a bus for Pete's Sake. Sorry haters, but they seem legit.

Brad and Angelina in New Orleans on Saturday.








Photos: AP

Winter Solstice

Today is the beginning of winter. Hard to believe since it is so cold 'round here, I thought it was winter a month ago. We get an extra minute of daylight each day.

Full moon on Christmas Eve.

A ha! I Knew The Daily Show Would Come Back

I was just talking about the Daily Show, and how we need it during the 2008 campaign year. I said there was no doubt in my mind that Jon Stewart would come back soon. I thought even politicians would get involved- they need that show for PR.


"'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart' and 'The Colbert Report' will resume production on January 7 with both shows returning to air that night without their respective writing staffs. The January 7 return follows a scheduled two-week, end-of-year hiatus that was previously built into the shows' production calendars. We continue to hold out hope for a swift resolution to the current stalemate that will enable the shows to be complete again."
— Comedy Central

"We would like to return to work with our writers. If we cannot, we would like to express our ambivalence, but without our writers we are unable to express something as nuanced as ambivalence."
— Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert

The Huffington Post says Letterman is also going back on air the same day as Conan and Leno, but I haven't heard that anywhere else. Letterman's reps tried to reach a deal separately with the union but nothing was resolved.




Source: Huffington Post
Photo: AP

SAG Awards Announced

SAG Awards which might not be seen on tv if the writer's strike continues.

The noms, with my comments of course.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

GEORGE CLOONEY “Michael Clayton” Love it
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS “There Will Be Blood” Haven't seen it
RYAN GOSLING “Lars And The Real Girl” Haven't seen it
EMILE HIRSCH “Into The Wild” Haven't seen it
VIGGO MORTENSEN “Eastern Promises” Haven't seen it


Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

CATE BLANCHETT “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” Love her
JULIE CHRISTIE “Away From Her” Don't know it
MARION COTILLARD “La Vie En Rose” Want to see
ANGELINA JOLIE “A Mighty Heart” Take that Aniston
ELLEN PAGE “Juno” AKA Jamie Lynn Spears


Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

CASEY AFFLECK “The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford” I don't even remember this movie in the theater
JAVIER BARDEM “No Country For Old Men”
HAL HOLBROOK “Into The Wild”
TOMMY LEE JONES “No Country For Old Men”
TOM WILKINSON “Michael Clayton”


Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

CATE BLANCHETT “I’m Not There”
RUBY DEE / Mama Lucas “American Gangster”
CATHERINE KEENER “Into The Wild”
AMY RYAN “Gone Baby Gone”
TILDA SWINTON “Michael Clayton”


Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

3:10 TO YUMA 3:10 TO YUMMY
AMERICAN GANGSTER Haven't seen it
HAIRSPRAY Haven't seen it
INTO THE WILD Haven't seen it
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN Haven't seen it
Since I've only seen one, I say give it to 3:10

Rest here

John Edwards Hasn't Seen Fatal Attraction Apparently

This is all alleged, and my opinion, and not yet proven to be true, etc etc.

Careful if you have an affair with a 43 year old woman. Especially if she doesn't have children. Remember Fatal Attraction "this might be my last chance to have a baby" or "I didn't think I could get pregnant".

I don't know if the alleged baby mama (pictured below) has children already, but what's a 43 year old doing having sex with a married man and geting pregnant? And I'd ask him the same thing.

There have been some blind items on blogs recently talking about a candidate and his mistress, but everyone just thought it was Rudy.

I have so many questions. Does Elizabeth know? Will he leave her? Will they name the baby Hilary if its a girl?

Kucinich's Brother Found Dead

In case you live under a rock, or are just bored by politics, Dennis Kucinich is the democratic candidate everyone thinks is a little wacky.

Perry Kucinich, 52, was found face down by another brother, Larry, at about 9 a.m., said Powell Caesar, a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County Coroner's office.

There were no signs of foul play, Caesar said. An autopsy was being performed Wednesday to determine the cause of death.

Source: AP

Mullet to Donate Her $50,000

Perhaps fearing the wrath of Survivor fans, Mullet the lunch lady will donate her $50,000 to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Recap:
On the reunion show Mullet said her lunch lady job wasnt available when she went back home and she had to take a job as a janitor, missing field hockey games or whatever. Mark Burnett, producer of Survivor, offered her $50,000.

The school mullet works for quickly go on tv to say "oh no she di'int". Ok, they didnt say that. They said Mullet wanted the janitor job, it was a promotion, and she had it before she left for Survivor.

“It was not my intention to be misleading,” Martin, 40, said on the broadcast. “I’m sorry, and I apologize to everybody.”

Well, if you don't tell the truth how do you not intend for that to be misleading. She could be a politician!

John Edwards Has a Love Child?

That's the rumor...according to the National Enquirer. They seem to have taken it off their web site, but Drudge mentions it.

I gotta say, I don't doubt it. He's pretty cheesy, and men in politics seem to have huge egos, so he probably needs some staffer to constantly be praising him (and doing whatever else...). AND, it's always the really religious ones, isn't it? But, this isn't confirmed as of yet.

It doesn't make sense that Edwards would continue with the campaign if this were true. I guess we'll know soon!

Edwards and the staffer are reportedly denying the story -- with the campaign issuing an absolute and unequivocal dismissal of its validity. The Enquirer counters with a claim that it has obtained confirmations from friends of the woman who say she shared the details of the affair and the pregnancy with them. Reporters for the weekly newspaper also claims to have seen emails that were purportedly sent by the woman regarding an affair.

Photo: Drudge Report

Sherri Shepherd Says Someting Stupid...Again

Does The View really need ratings so bad, that they are keeping this idiot around?

Yesterday on "The View," Sherri Shepherd discussed taking her two-year-old son Jeffrey to a toy store that was having a sale instead of giving him a nap. She described the store, Giggle, as "a rich white folks' store."

What distinguishes a "rich white folks' store" from any other store? For Sherri, it's the inability to physically discipline her screaming child. Jeffrey was crying as they shopped for toys, but Sherri told the panel that, because she felt guilty about bringing him to the store instead of letting him nap, "I couldn't do what I normally would have done. Plus the people [were] looking at me like, this wasn't a store that looked like they beat the kids. So I had to do as the Romans do when I was in the Roman store."

That doesn't seem cool to beat a child that is crying because he's tired. (or beat him for any reason, obviously...or even to joke about it)

Photo, Source

Duel

Get ready for more game shows as the writers strike continues. Duel is a trivia gameshow, so I can dig it. Im oddly attracted to the host, I dont know why. Nice voice maybe.

One question was "What color are President George W. Bush's eyes". Hmmm...his heart is black so his eyes would be, dunno. (they're blue)

Another was- "Santa's reindeer, including Rudolph, + days of Hanukkah". Neither contestant knew for sure, including a woman married to a Jew. Reindeer=9. Adam Sandler's Hanukkah movie was called 8 Crazy Nights, thats how I remember Hanukkah. I am Jew Lite after all. (answer=17)




Photo: AP

Kimmel to Return to TV

Jimmy Kimmel said he will follow Conan and Leno back to tv.





Photo: Reuters

I Knew Mullet Seemed Sneaky!

Mullet tried to manipulate Amanda into keeping her in the game because she needed the money...as if the winner of Survivor should be the one who needs money the most. Then why bother playing? During the reunion Mullet said she had a worse job when she got back and was a janitor. Mark Burnett felt bad for her and gave her $50,000. Wonder if he'll cancel the check. Read:



Source: TMZ

Britney's 16 Year Old Sister Pregnant

Oy! Didn't Beyonce's sister have a baby at a young age? Maybe this is their way of getting attention. Even Britney was married and in her twenties before she had her children.




Photo, Source: People

Pam Files For Divorce...

Then changes her mind.

Here they are shopping after the divorce then no divorce request.




Photo: People

Ok, We Need to Settle This Strike

The Golden Globes are January 13 and officially kickoff the highly anticipated (by me) televised awards shows. The GGs are where celebs can drink so they are all sorts of crazy.

If the strike continues, and that looks likely, there won't be much of a show. Actors and directors wouldn't want to cross the picket line. It would be Patricia Heaton and Sharon Lawrence accepting the award for everyone. Don't know why I picked those ladies, but I bet its true!

Conan and Leno to Return

Just like Johnny Carson did back in 1988, Conan and Leno will return to tv while their writers are still on strike. This might be to Leno's advantage. Maybe its his writers that make him so lame! I haven't seen the Tonight Show in years, but from what I remember- he is paiful. But, I've always been a Letterman gal.

I am guessing Leno wanted to come back and did some power play to get Conan to come back at the same time so he wouldn't be the bad guy.

Read more here.



Photo, Source: AP

Survivor- Fans vs. Favorites

The next Survivor, starting in February and sure to be widely watched if the writer's strike continues, will be Super Fans vs. Favorite Survivors from the past.

For the love of nothing else on tv to watch, lets hope Rob and/or Amber are not part of it. We've had enough of them.

Survivor: Todd Wins

Todd, the mormon flight attendant wins Survivor. I thought Amanda would win but she came in third. Courtney, the one who didn't do much and was a snob came in second. Mullet voted for Courtney, probably regretting that after she watched the show and heard Courtney say that Mullet "sucks at life".

The best part of the Survivor reunion is always seeing how much weight they gain back. Compared to her Survivor day 39 weight (86 pounds according to Jeff Probst) Courtney did look like she put on weight. Jeff said "You put on more weight than (the 93 lbs) you started Survivor with". Not sure why he pointed that out. As you can see from the photo she is still thin (she's on the right).

A lot of people looked different, a lot of women with new hairstyles, except for...Mullet. I thought she would surprise us with a new look, but no. Jeff, never one to be shy about asking a question (he did ask Eric if he was still a virgin even though he is now dating Jaime) asked Mullet about her hairstyle. She said she had to keep it short for the hairnet at work, but had it long in the back for her husband. She also said she lost her lunch lady job and is now a janitor. Which means she could grow her hair out from the mullet if you think about it.

James won the $100K voted on by viewers. Jeff announced that producer Mark Burnett, after hearing Mullet's janitor story, is giving her $50K.

Nicole in Suit By Reynolds Wrap

Photo: AP

This N That

Dan Fogelberg dies

Wow. People love Will Smith

Snubbed by the Golden Globes, Sean Penn's film gets other honors

Everyone in Hollywood is Plastic

I'd be curious who in Hollywood is au natural.

Natalie, say it isn't so!
Le schnoz looks thinner.



Source

What Has Renee Done to Her Face?

Renee in 1987, and more recently.



Photos: People, MSNBC

Survivor- Peih Gee Goes Home

The Survivor finale is this Sunday. Seems like it has gone so fast...or maybe that's because it is one of the few non-repeat shows on tv.

Amanda wins immunity, and Peih Gee gets voted out. Mullet is still in it, but unless she wins the next immunity challenge, I think she'll be voted out next.

Chris Evert Lloyd Mills Norman

Chris Evert and Greg Norman are engaged. Both divorced their longtime spouses last year. Way to make those ex's have an extra crappy Christmas!




Photo: People

New Chompers Not Always a Good Thing

I caught the end of Catch and Release on tv (Jennifer Garner movie) and Timothy Olyphant looked odd to me. He is/was on Deadwood. New teeth and an eye lift maybe? Also, you can't tell from these photos, but the teeth really stick out in the movie when he smiles. They are too white, and maybe too big for his mouth.
First photo pre-new teeth in 2001, a more current photo from 2006






Photos: Yahoo

Clooney and Cheadle Honored

The Oceans 11, 12, 13 costars accept the 2007 Peace Summit Award from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. I think it was for their work in Darfur.

Project Runway- Odd Man Out

The designers had to make outfits for women who had recently lost weight, using one of their former outfits.

Winning outfit




Unique (is that the right word for him?) Steven was sent home because of this creation




Photos: Bravotv.com

Golden Globe Noms

Best Motion Picture - Drama
American Gangster
Atonement
Eastern Promises
The Great Debaters
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Best Actress - Drama
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie - Away From Her
Jodie Foster - The Brave One
Angelina Jolie - A Mighty Heart
Keira Knightley - Atonement

Best Actor - Drama
George Clooney - Michael Clayton
Daniel Lewis - There Will Be Blood
James McAvoy - Atonement
Viggo Mortensen - Eastern Promises
Denzel Washington - American Gangster

Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Across The Universe
Charlie Wilson's War
Hairspray
Juno
Sweeney Todd

Best Actress - Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams - Enchanted
Nikki Blonsky - Hairspray
Helena Bonham Carter - Sweeney Todd
Marion Cotillard - La Vie En Rose
Ellen Page - Juno

Best Actor - Musical Or Comedy
Johnny Depp - Sweeney Todd
Ryan Gosling - Lars and the Real Girl
Tom Hanks - Charlie Wilson's War
Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Savages
John C. Reilly - Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story



source

Madge in the Hall of Fame!

I can't wait to hear her snobby, upity, british-accented speech. Love Madonna!
They will have to call the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame something else soon, since its not just Rock and Roll (I know, Im so literal but where's the cutoff? Opera? Country? Fiddle?). Madonna is pop.

Other inductees: John Mellencamp, The Ventures, Leonard Cohen and The Dave Clark Five.





Source: AP

Hollywood- Step Away From the Candidates

Does no one remember Ashton Kutcher, Leonardo DiCaprio, I think Ben Affleck campaigning for Kerry? Look where that got us.

Tim Robbins and John Edwards in Iowa. Kevin Bacon will join later in the week. And that's going to help because...?






Photo: AP

Ike Turner Dies

This photo is from the Grammys this year, he won for Best Traditional Blues Album. No word on cause of death. He was 76.



Photo: Reuters

Babka!

Today I stopped by the local bread store, picked up some fresh bread and had a sample of chocolate babka. I've never had babka! I just like to say babka! With a "!"

The following exchange was had:

Me: There's a Seinfeld episode about babka
Girl behind counter: Yeah
Me: Oh, you've seen it?
Girl: No
Other girl behind counter: We just pretend like we have since it gets mentioned so much.
Me: You are too young to have seen it...
Girl: I remember going to sex ed class and no one was on the streets because they were home watching the finale
(not sure why sex ed was at night...)

I love that other people mention the Seinfeld episode. I wish they had cinnamon babka to compare to the chocolate (remember, they don't get the last chocolate babka, so they get the cinnamon..."is the cinnamon a lesser babka?")

And how can I discuss babka without the Bibbi-Babka from Perfect Strangers. Looking at it now, its more nostalgic than funny...but occasionally my family will sing this song. Seriously.

And sometimes my bro and sis will do the Dance of Joy:

Critics Choice Awards

Dang, I haven't seen many of the movies. Loved Michael Clayton.
Where is 3:10 to Yuma on these critics lists?

NOMINEES FOR THE 13TH ANNUAL CRITICS- CHOICE AWARDS

PICTURE
American Gangster
Atonement
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Into the Wild
Juno
The Kite Runner
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
Sweeney Todd
There Will Be Blood

ACTOR
George Clooney - Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp - Sweeney Todd
Ryan Gosling - Lars and the Real Girl
Emile Hirsch - Into the Wild
Viggo Mortensen - Eastern Promises

ACTRESS
Amy Adams - Enchanted
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie - Away From Her
Marion Cotillard - La Vie en Rose
Angelina Jolie - A Mighty Heart
Ellen Page - Juno


source

What Could be That Funny?

Ugh, Tom with the fake laughing.
The "I Am Legend" NY Premiere.


Photo: Reuters

What Will Stedman Think?

First she's with Obama, now Denzel.
At the premiere of "The Great Debaters", a film Denzel and Oprah produced.

She Killed Grover!

Sharon Cruella DeVil Stone at some AmFar benefit. When I typed it fast, it said AmFart and I laughed. I am 11 years old apparently.

What poor animal had to not only suffer and die, but then had to be dyed blue and worn by this fur wearing whore?


Im going to say all this makeup could be to disguise a face or eye lift of some kind. That is based on nothing, and is just a guess since I can't figure out why someone would paint their face like this on purpose.



But the kicker: Kenneth Cole and his wife. What?!?! All those metrosexual clothes are designed by a straight guy? All 3 of my black trenches are designed by some hetero? Get out.




Photos: AP, Reuters

Becks

New Armani ad.
I keep giggling when I think of a comment. I'll just let the picture speak for itself.



Photo: People