Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Landon Donovan Lovechild: Is it really a scandal?

News - Landon Donovan: My Wife Means So Much to Me Now - Celebrity News - UsMagazine.com

The revelation that Landon Donovan may have fathered a lovechild is quickly running out of steam on the scandalmeter because he is a soccer player, and now that the US is out of the World Cup, soccer is no longer at the forefront of our cultural focus.

Besides, Donovan wasn't that big of a star to begin with. This sudden concern about his estranged wife, his lovechild, and his mistress is feigned. It was a way to make Americans care about soccer in time for the World Cup.

Look at the way some of our most popular magazines have begun publicizing all of those "sexy soccer stars." This is a ploy for ratings, and it becomes even more important now, since the American team has been eliminated.

Trying to make the Landon Donovan story into a scandal is a weak attempt at publicity. It will disappear in a few weeks, after the obligatory World Cup hype is over.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Chris Brown Cries During BET Awards

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEWS: Chris Brown Breaks Down Crying During BET Awards Tribute To Michael Jackson RadarOnline.com

Was Chris Brown's emotional rendition of Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" authentic or just a publicity stunt to try and resurrect his tanking career? The singer got very choked up during his tribute to Michael Jackson at last night's BET Awards, so much so, that he couldn't even sing some of the last song. RadarOnline.com reported that Brown's performance "stole the show."

One gets the sense, when watching Brown, that his tears were more an expression of grief over what once was, then they were over Jackson's death. His career has never been the same since his infamous fight with Rihanna, and his last album "Graffiti," suffered from poor sales and reviews.

Will this latest PR stunt manage to revive Brown's floundering career? Will his tears convince people that he is not a violent abuser of women, but really a sensitive artist whose emotions got the best of him? Celebrities interviewed at the BET Awards last night seemed to think that Brown should be left alone by the media and should be allowed to have his career back. One thing is for certain, it will take a lot more public repentance before Chris Brown is going to be trusted again.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

The Toy Story Phenomenon

Look at the box office snapshot of June 27, 2010. Seven of the top ten movies blatantly exploit the innocence of youth, and obviously to great effect. Why, then do studios keep trying to tell us we should crave something else? I'm sick of critics pretending they're shocked when period pieces, dramas, or romantic thrillers fail. These are AUTUMN MOVIES, people. Haven't you realized that by now?

It's summer and my mind wants to go on vacation. I want sun and fun, beaches and Fantasyland. No stuffy wood-paneled rooms, cubicles, or desolate ghost towns. I want Katy Perry singing about "California Gurls" and Buzz Lightyear, the enduring staple of youth, comforting me with shouts of, "To infinity... and BEYOND!"

Seven of the top ten movies this week are staples of our youth, and if not our youth, then that of our children: innocent, enduring, and secure. "Toy Story 3," "The Karate Kid," "The A-Team," and "Shrek Forever After" are remakes, variations on a time-tested theme that has proven successful; while, "Get Him to the Greek," "Grown Ups," and "The Prince of Persia" capitalize on the rituals of male adventure, bonding, and virilty.

These are unsure times. We have enough to worry about, with terrorism, nuclear threats, increased surveillance, and impending economic collapse an everyday reality. We need fantasy and escape, comfort and security. We need to feel safe again, like we did in our youth.

Impending doom has always dogged us, the everpresent shadow ready to snatch us up at any given moment, but when we were kids, we didn't care. We were bound and determined to experience life, to imbibe of as much as we could before we ran out. Money, alcohol, drugs, and sex: the fleeting summers bonding with friends; memories you carry with you throughout your life, and that placate you as you grow older.

Security. Cartoon characters that never get old, heroes that never die. Sequels represent summer and are expected by audiences the same way they expect catchy pop songs and risque clothing. These staples are even more in demand today, because times are indeed bleak. So why don't the studios save some money, forego the pretense, and just give us what we want?

Lindsay Lohan Can't Get a Fair Trial ANYWHERE!!!

EXCLUSIVE: Lindsay Lohan Can't Get Fair Trial, Says Lawyer RadarOnline.com

Lindsay Lohan's lawyer says she can't get a fair trial in Beverly Hills, or anywhere else in California, for that matter; but I've got news for Lindsay and her attorney: She can't get a fair trial anywhere! Lindsay recently announced she was filing a $100 million dollar lawsuit against Etrade for using her first name in reference to a "milkaholic" baby.

Etrade is a national company, whose spot aired during the Super Bowl and the winter Olympics, and whether or not they did have insinuating intentions with their overindulgent baby, her suit against them has brought national attention to her drug and alcohol problems. She has long been fodder for late-night talk shows, and the mere mention of her name conjures up images of alcohol-monitoring bracelets and wild parties. So, where in America would Lindsay be able to get a fair trial?

Friday, June 25, 2010

EXCLUSIVE: Fergie Ready To Leave Black Eyed Peas, Feuding With Will.I.Am | RadarOnline.com

EXCLUSIVE: Fergie Ready To Leave Black Eyed Peas, Feuding With Will.I.Am RadarOnline.com

RadarOnline.com reports that Fergie's status with the Black Eyed Peas is uncertain, and that she probably won't be joining the band on its 2011 tour. Will she sustain fame on her own? I believe the answer is yes. Fergie has already proven to be a solo success, and was the face of the band as well. She will profit from a solo career the way Gwen Stefani did when she branched out from No Doubt.

Fergie has the looks and the voice to keep her successful, with or without Will.I.Am. And she can act too! (Her performance in "Nine" was great!) I have to admit, it will be kind of nice not to have to hear whatever new Black Eyed Peas' song is out every 20 minutes, like I did last year on the radio. They're good, but they are a little played out. ("Boom, Boom, Pow"??) I felt like I was being subjected to some kind of psyops warfare or something. They have a good sound, and make catchy music, but Fergie can do that by herself, without having to share the spotlight with Will.I.Am.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

"Knight and Day," Cruise, Diaz, Fail to Impress

Cruise-Diaz movie 'Knight and Day' opens to soft $3.8 million at box office Wednesday

Ben Fritz reports in the LA Times that predictions of a disappointing opening for the Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz film "Knight and Day" were right on, as it opened a distant second yesterday to "Toy Story 3."

According to Fritz, the film failed, despite studio efforts to generate buzz. He writes, "In order to counteract what appears to have been ineffective marketing and a lack of interest among audiences in Cruise and Diaz, distributor 20th Century Fox held nationwide sneak previews for 'Knight and Day' on Saturday and moved up its release from Friday to Wednesday."

Looks like Cameron Diaz's desperate bid for publicity didn't pay off in any big way, yet the actress is still trying. Starpulse.com has Diaz quoted as saying she loves having sex outside.

Note to Cameron: Nobody's buying. Can you please stop talking about your sex life now?

But, let's not blame it all on her. This movie has myriad things going against it, namely its relevance. It's 2010, and no one really cares about Tom Cruise or Cameron Diaz anymore. They are fond faces from another decade, but we have moved on. "Twilight" is coming out; the World Cup is going on; it's summer, and we're trying to forget our problems and just enjoy life the way all those pop songs tell us we should. Why would we devote over two hours of our hectic and overscheduled lives to watching "The Weird Guy" and "Justin Timberlake's ex-girlfriend"?

No amount of Cameron's naughty sex talk would've saved this film. Trying to remain relevant in a Miley Cyrus, "Jersey Shore" kind of world is difficult. This is a harsh and frenetic reality we live in, and you have to constantly be seen to be relevant. Unfortunately for them, Tom Cruise is constantly seen in the wrong light, while Cameron Diaz is just transparent.

Kristen Stewart Rape Comment

News - Kristen Stewart: Fame Is "Like Being Raped" - Celebrity News - UsMagazine.com



Does Kristen Stewart have an insecurity complex or what? She reminds me of the nerdy girl who scores the jock in one of those cheesy John Hughes' movies. Her latest publicity piece in "Entertainment Weekly," in which she has her boyfriend defend her, because people like him better, is downright pathetic. Kristen chooses to use two major media buzzwords in her controversial interview with Britain's "Elle" magazine, "paparazzi" and "raped," and then acts like a massive injustice is being done when people criticize her.

Come on! When she told "Elle" that she felt like the paparazzi was raping her, what did she think would happen? If she had simply called the paparazzi out on their aggressive tactics, she would've appeared righteously indignant, like Elton John or Princess Diana's brother; but she chose to use an emotionally charged word that was sure to elicit attention and controversy.

Robert Pattinson then stands up to defend her in "Entertainment Weekly," by calling out the "nerdy bloggers" who inflated the story, despite the fact that she was criticized by RAINN, a support group for survivors of rape, abuse, and incest. What do bloggers have to do with anything? If it wasn't for those "nerdy bloggers," Robert Pattinson wouldn't be half as famous as he is today.

Kristen then uses Pattinson's comments as an excuse to whine about how she could never say that because nobody likes her, and everybody's always picking on her, blah, blah, blah...

Dear Kristen, You can't, on the one hand, start taking shots at the media, while at the same time crying and running away. Harsh words spoken in a desperate plea for attention will have the intended results. You decry the media, "screaming and taunting" you, "to get a reaction," but what are you doing to them?