Entertainment Gossips For U

In the face of the Trump presidency, Katy Perry asserts her political self, but to what end?

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 06:13:00 +0500

Katy Perry won’t let the Trumpocalypse keep you off the dance floor. The 32-year-old pop singer debuted “Chained to the Rhythm” at the Grammy awards. Announcing that the chanteuse would devote her brand to “purposeful pop,” she wore an armband emblazoned with the word “PERSIST,” a nod to Elizabeth Warren’s protest on the Senate floor against Jeff Sessions’ confirmation. As she read a letter from Coretta Scott King admonishing the civil rights record of the Alabama Senator, Republican Mitch McConnell shouted her down, saying: “She persisted.” That phrase has since become a rallying cry against the new administration. Perry, one of Hillary Clinton’s most passionate supporters during the 2016 race, wrote on Twitter that the 2016 election was a moment of awakening for the singer, known more for squirting whip cream from her breasts than her political awareness.“Sometimes it’s scary opening up to consciousness,” she wrote, “makes you realize how asleep you were, and how OK you were with it.” The catchy tune, which is the first single from Perry’s yet-to-be-released fourth album, is intended to mark a shift in her public persona. Produced by the ever-ubiquitous Sia, “Chained to the Rhythm” marries Perry’s glittery facade — as well as her torrid love affair with mixed metaphors — to an undercurrent of Trump-era malaise. “Living our lives through a lens,” she croons. “Trapped in our white-picket fence/ Like ornaments/” The bridge, courtesy of Bob Marley’s son, Skip, stops just short of calling for a coup. “Up in your high place, liars/” the 20-year-old sing-raps. “Time is ticking for the empire/” Rebooting her persona appears to be working for the former California Gurl: “Chained to the Rhythm” is breaking records on Spotify, with more streams in its first 24 hours than any other song in the platform’s history. Selling herself as “woke” is good marketing for a singer about to enter the second decade of her career, a transition that’s been extremely unkind to pop contemporaries from Jessica Simpson to Lily Allen. But the issue is that Perry has been selling herself as enlightened for some time, even as her discography is littered with a distasteful undercurrent of homophobia and racism. If the diva hopes to rescue America from Trump with booty-shaking jams, Perry needs to save herself first. The pop mainstay first stormed onto the scene with “I Kissed A Girl” in 2008, the rare song to upset both Christian conservatives and the LGBT community. Republicans didn’t like the Dr. Luke-produced thumper because it appeared to promote homosexuality, but queer critics took issue with the seemingly affirming tune’s underlying premise: It’s OK to make out with other girls as long as you aren’t a lesbian about it. Perry claims that she penned the No. 1 hit — which actually has four writers attached — after catching a glimpse of Scarlett Johansson, then Woody Allen’s muse, in a magazine. But the track dabbles in the sort of girl-on-girl action you might find at a frat party, Sapphic action strictly for the purpose of male attention. The singer, who reminds us in the song that she has a “boyfriend,” repeatedly reminds her audience that it’s all in good fun: “You’re my experimental game/ Just human nature.” One particular couplet, though, really drove a stake all the way through the heart of LGBT listeners. “It’s not what, good girls do,” Perry sings. “Not how they should behave.” These are odd sentiments for someone who has repeatedly referred to herself as a supporter of the queer community. The debut of “I Kissed a Girl,” which spent seven weeks atop the pop charts, coincided with the passage of Proposition 8 in California, a voter referendum that overturned an earlier Supreme Court decision legalizing marriage equality at the ballot box. After same-sex union were voted down in her home state, Perry told DoSomething.org: “I am a gay activist and I say that proudly. I voted no on Prop 8.” Perry has billed herself as an ally to LGBT people throughout her career, dedicating the music video to “Firework” to the It Gets Better campaign. Over vaguely inspirational lyrics imploring asking listeners have “ever [felt] like a plastic bag/ drifting through the wind/ wanting to start again,” the video shows two boys kissing in a crowded dance party. But as The New York Times noted, there was something a little more than opportunistic behind its veneer of queer affirmation. The song, which Perry also claimed was a tribute to Jack Kerouac, was written in 2009, well before Tyler Clementi’s suicide made the issue of anti-gay bullying a nationwide topic of conversation. Clementi was a Rutgers student who took his own life in 2010 after being outed by his roommate. The lyrics for “Firework” are so vague and nonspecific they could be applied to anything. Like the video for Christina Aguilera’s thematically identical “Beautiful,” the video also makes room for a young cancer patient and a teen struggling with body negativity. It’s also nakedly hypocritical about someone who once implored an effeminate ex to kill himself in a song to advocate for tolerance and understanding. Although “I Kissed a Girl” proved her big break in the U.S., it wasn’t her first release here. That would be “Ur So Gay,” offered up as a promotional single from “One of the Boys.” The triphop-inspired track failed to chart on the Hot 100 but managed to go Gold on the strength of digital downloads. On “Ur So Gay,” Perry bemoans the fact that she fell in love with a straight man who acts gay. Among the metrosexual fellow’s chief sins are that the fellow wears makeup, likes Hemingway and listens to Mozart — basically that he behaves like a woman, is culturally refined and has good taste in books. The singer would like you to know that these traits are bad and men who enjoy such things are not desirable. Her solution? “I hope you hang yourself with your H&M scarf/” she sings, later adding: “You’re so gay and you don’t even like boys/” Perry recorded the song in 2008, which you could reasonably argue was a long time ago. Perhaps she released it, learned from the extremely negative feedback from the LGBT community, regretted the controversy and moved on. Unfortunately not. Shortly after “Ur So Gay” was released, Zack Rosen of The New Gay confronted her about claims that the song is homophobic and Perry shrugged off the criticism. She told Rosen the backlash was “unfortunate,” a response that should be read as analogous to “I’m sorry if you’re offended.” In an episode of “MTV Unplugged” recorded the same year, Ms. Perry would double down on defending “Ur So Gay.” She called the anti-LGBT anthem “one of [her] favorite songs.” Rather than dropping the tune, “Ur So Gay” would remain in her rotation. Even while using bullied youth to sell copies of “Firework,” Perry dedicated the song to a male concertgoer in 2010 — a former crush who didn’t return her affections. Perry has willfully continued making these sorts of mistakes her entire career, refusing to grow and evolve as an artist. Critics pointed out that the lyrics of “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.),” an 80’s throwback complete with a sax solo courtesy of Kenny G, heavily allude to date rape and it didn’t help that the video shows someone getting roofied — as if getting drugged and sexually assaulted where just a wild and wacky thing that happens when you’re busy having fun. At the 1:40 mark, you can clearly see a male partygoer putting something in his female conversation partner’s drink. The singer has also been lambasted for featuring minstrel depictions of black women, with oversized posteriors and giant pink lips, in her performances. During the video for “This Is How We Do,” she pulls an Iggy Azalea — donning cornrows, slicked down baby hair and an exaggerated pucker. If the intent weren’t obvious enough, Perry eats a watermelon. Maybe Perry — who has continually defended her right to be as racist and homophobic as she wants — has finally come of age and matured as an artist and a human being. Stranger things have happened. But then again, probably not. Even while debuting her new socially conscious Barbie image, Perry managed to take not one but two unnecessary swipes at Britney Spears on the Grammys red carpet. Spears, who had a very public breakdown in 2007, famously cut off all her hair at the height of media fascination about her mental health. She has since sought treatment and appears to be doing well, releasing a well-received comeback album, “Glory,” last year. The former party girl spends most of her time Instagramming about Caesar salads. When Ryan Seacrest asked Perry why she took such a long break in between releasing records, the singer didn’t tout her newfound wisdom. She called it “taking care of your mental health.” Perry added, “I haven’t shaved my head yet.” As the saying goes, if it ain’t woke, don’t fix it.

News Source: www.salon.com

Angelina Jolie — and Her Kids! — Meet with Royalty at Cambodian Movie Premiere

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 18:47:00 +0500

Angelina Jolie‘s long-awaited Cambodian film premiere was a family affair. The actress was joined by her children — Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 8 — at the world premiere of her passion project, First They Killed My Father in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Her sons Maddox, who was born in Cambodia, and Pax were both involved in the film’s production. Presented at the Terrace of the Elephant in the ancient Angkor Wat temple complex, the film was screened to both Hollywood and Cambodian royalty, as the country’s King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk were in attendance, along with a host of senior government officials. Jolie and her family posed for a photo with the royal family at the premiere. The premiere of First They Killed My Father, was screened in the temple of the elephant terrace, a couple of kilometers from where Jolie shot her breakout 2001 film Tomb Raider. As the heat of the day wore off, local families picnicked along the banks of a nearby lake, while monkeys scavenged the area for scraps of food. For those without invitations, the entrance to the premiere itself was blocked off by a handful of police and security guards. Several white minivans drove past taking attendees to the screening. Cheany Nem, 30, from Kampong Cham province came to the premiere with her husband, mother, niece and nephew after hearing that locals could see the film for free. But they were not allowed in because they don’t have an invitation and access was tight due to the attendance of the royal family. “Me, like a lot of young people, want to know what happened during the Khmer Rouge,” Nem said. “My mum is older so knows the story. I heard from her what happened but i wanted to know for myself. “When I was young I learned about the Khmer Rouge from school. Learning about it made me feel hurt and that makes me want to come see the movie.” Rady, who works in Siem Reap, agreed about the importance of seeing the movie. “My kids don’t know anything about the history,” the 40-year-old said outside the premiere. “It’s very important for the kids — they don’t know about all the killings at the time — so by watching this movie they can learn about the history of Cambodia.” “Of course its hard to talk about what happened, but a movie can say it,” Rady continued. “I hope for the future that our country will teach the youth the history of Cambodia so they know what happened.” Nem said that Jolie was obviously a big draw for seeing the film but added: “Its an important memory for every Khmer person. Its important for young people to learn about the Khmer Rouge. They want to know” Earlier in the day, the Oscar winner made her first public appearance since she filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, when she attended a press event for the film. At the press conference, Jolie said she thinks of Cambodia “like a second home,” adding, “Maddox is happy to be back in his country.” Based on the autobiography of the same name by Cambodian human-rights activist Loung Ung, a friend of Jolie’s, First They Killed My Father tells the true story of the devastation inflicted on Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge communist party in the 1970s.“I read Loung’s book many years ago,” Jolie said at the press conference. “It helped to open my eyes to what was going on the world.” She added, “I wanted to tell the story to through the eyes of the child’s point of view, the love of a family, to show the beauty of the country and understand what Maddox’s parents may have gone through.” More than two million people, out of a total population of seven million, were killed during the purge, including Ung’s father, mother and two sisters. “The heart of it is Loung’s story, it’s the story of a war through the eyes of a child, but it is also the story of a country,” Jolie said in a promotional clip for the film. Jolie used only Cambodian actors, many of whom are the survivors or children of the survivors of the genocide. In addition, Jolie insisted only their native Khmer be spoken throughout the film. Jolie, Ung and the producers hoped the experience of making the film would be cathartic for those who participated. The actress’s love affair with Cambodia began after she filmed Tomb Raider in the country in 2000. Not long after she was finished with production, she returned to Cambodia as a volunteer for the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, for which she is now a special envoy. In 2002, Jolie adopted her first child, Maddox, from a Battambang orphanage. “He was the one who just called it and said he was ready and that he wanted to work on it, which he did,” Jolie recently told The Guardian of Maddox’s role in the film. “He read the script, helped with notes, and was in the production meetings.” Jolie’s second-oldest son, Pax, was also involved in the production. In 2015, Jolie told PEOPLE, “Pax is doing a lot of the stills,” adding, “The whole movie is from a child’s point of view.”

News Source: www.people.com

Watch Jimmy Fallon Mock President Trump's Insane Solo Press Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 21:31:00 +0500

Jimmy Fallon parodied President Trump's bizarre solo press conference with the cold-open of Thursday's Tonight Show. The comedian, decked out in his traditional orange make-up, hosted his own event, poking fun at the president's rambling statements and confrontations with reporters. "First of all, you're all fake news," Fallon said to open the bit. "I hate you very much. And thank you for being here. Next." Later, he vowed to make Beyoncé Secretary of Labor because of her pregnancy expertise, used a tiny hand prop to drink a glass of water and vowed to change his widely used slogan to the "classier" "faux news." The rest of late-night television also scrambled to weigh in on Trump's disastrous first solo press conference, held Thursday afternoon. The Late Show's Stephen Colbert went in-depth on the "historic event," observing that Trump was truly all by himself behind the podium – "evidently he didn't even bring his meds with him." Firing back at Trump's claim that he "inherited a mess" with the presidency, Colbert cracked, "No, you inherited a fortune. We elected a mess." The host highlighted the president's most absurd moments – from inaccurately claiming his victory marked the "biggest Electoral College win since Ronald Reagan" to suggesting April Ryan, an African-American White House correspondent, should "set up a meeting" with the Congressional Black Caucus. "Oh, you're a black woman? Can you talk to the Congressional Black Caucus?" Colbert mocked. "Can you guys get together at your next meeting of the black club?" (Late Show bandleader Jon Batiste concurred that, indeed, all black people meet up periodically "at Oprah's house.") On Late Night, Seth Meyers was forced to shred, literally, his previous edition of "A Closer Look," which focused on Republican attempts to repeal Obamacare. His replacement segment included a hilarious mash-up of Trump's biggest tantrums and insulting responses: a flurry of "fake news," "Quiet!" and "I don't have to tell you." "Did you hear him? He said he's 'not ranting and raving,'" Meyers said. "But again, what president hasn't had to say, 'I'm not ranting and raving'? Who can forget Lincoln's tirade at Gettysburg or FDR's fireside meltdowns or Ronald Raegan famously saying, 'Gorbachev, if you don't tear down this fucking wall, I'm gonna lose my shit'?" Meanwhile, on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the dazed host marveled that the tone of the press conference was "like if your dad found a pack of cigarettes under your mattress … You know it was a bad press conference when assuming all black people know each other wasn't even the worst part of it."

News Source; www.rollingstone.com

Fifth Harmony Reveal Attempts to Make Camila Cabello Stay for 'One More Album'

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 21:24:00 +0500

"To watch Camila walk away from this special world we've built with you is tough,"
Fifth Harmony write to fans Fifth Harmony released a second letter addressing Camila Cabello's exit from the pop group, after Cabello said she was "shocked" and "sad" to read that the group felt her departure was sudden. According to Cabello, her exit was known well in advance of the announcement. According to Fifth Harmony's new letter, Cabello's first solo effort in late 2015 and her duet with Shawn Mendes titled "I Know What You Did Last Summer" caused problems. They paint a picture of a member with one foot out the door as they claim they spent months trying to plan meetings, group counseling and label interventions to try and convince Cabello that they deserve "one more album of her time." They revealed that Cabello did not attend any of the meetings or counseling sessions they scheduled. Cabello's manager was the one to tell Fifth Harmony that she would be leaving, having informed them in mid-November that a December 18th Jingle Ball tour date would be her last performance with them. "To watch Camila walk away from this special world we've built with you is tough but we will move forward together," they said. "We are excited to continue to put positivity into the world and light into people's lives. The four of us recognize that we would be NOTHING without Fifth Harmony." Remaining members Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane Hansen, Lauren Jauregui and Normani Kordei ended their message by reaffirming that they will continue on as a quartet and that this would be their last message regarding the situation, so as to not continue engaging "in this back and forth."

News Source: www.rollingstone.com

Kristen Bell And Cast Of 'Veronica Mars' Tell Us What's Next

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 19:44:00 +0500

Now that "Veronica Mars" has been in theaters and on demand for a full weekend, what's next for the detective franchise? While at SXSW we asked Kristen Bell, Rob Thomas (creator of the show and movie) and the rest of the cast just what they thought would be coming up. "I would just do just about anything," Bell told us. "It would great to do a franchise of movies, we have a bit more creativity in film than we do on television. But if one day it comes back as some sort of a series, I would be involved as well." And Thomas has even more ambitious ideas in mind. "Big picture, I feel like Nancy Drew had a good 70 year run, and I would like to replace her," Thomas joked. "Honestly, I hope on some level, dream of dreams that Veronica would become an iconic fictional detective, and she could be spun off in any number of ways." In fact, Thomas is spinning off "Veronica Mars" into a series of novels starting with "The Ten Thousand Dollar Tan Line" on March 25. The book picks up right after the movie, and if everything goes well could be the launching pad for the next movie, as well. "The novels that we're doing, those could very well end up being future 'Veronica Mars' plots," Thomas continued. "I'm really taking care with the plotting of those, and I'm going to try and make it a continuous universe. So those novels don't exist in some parallel universe, but in Veronica's timeline." Thomas added that he hopes "Veronica Mars" becomes a "mini Bond franchise," releasing a new film every two or three years, though not for $100 million like the "Bond" films. "The affordable franchise, is what I'd like to be," Thomas quipped. Bell meanwhile ultimately leaves the decision up to the people who revived the show in the first place. "I would want to know what the fans want, to be honest," Bell said. "I don't say that insincerely. As an artist, you want to do things that your audience likes and wants and appreciates and gets excited about." And on the other end of the spectrum, actor Chris Lowell has a completely different idea on where his character should go next. "Veronica Mars and Piz in space," Lowell joked. "Why are we even talking about this? Piz in space. I mean, that's it. Who's not going to see that movie?" "Veronica Mars" is now in theaters.

News Source:www.mtv.com

Lindsay Lohan Addresses Family Issues on “Lindsay”

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 19:15:00 +0500

Giving the world an inside look at her nutty life, Lindsay Lohan had a tension-filled lunch with her dad Michael Lohan during last night's episode of “Lindsay” on OWN. While catching up with her papa, LiLo learned that he couldn’t afford to help purchase her brother Cody a car because his child support payments for his other children were too high. The “Mean Girls” actress snipped, “I don’t want to talk about your other two random f*cking kids… My dad has a whole ‘nother life that he lives with these other people that he’s created that I don’t want to be a part of my life.” And when Michael asked about her then-boyfriend Matt Nordgren, Lindsay blurted out, “Now you’re getting me angry, because you weren’t good for me for a long time in my life.” Meanwhile, Miss Lohan also commented on her mother Dina’s recent DUI arrest- “It’s really unfortunate, but I’ve been there… It’s not a fun place to be, so I just want to be there to support her as much as I can.” After a delay in getting her new Manhattan apartment (part of her production deal), Lindsay finally got the go-ahead to move in. “It was such a relief, getting the keys. I was so grateful to just finally be in and have a place I could come home to. I noticed [without] my apartment I started to sink back in to my old self-pity in a way, and I let that stress me out… It really is one step, one day at a time. It sounds so cliché, but until you’re actually living it, you realize just how true it actually is.” Given the drama in just the first two episodes of “Lindsay,” it’ll be interesting to see where things go from here!

News Source:www.gossipcenter.com

Kim Kardashian storms out of Vienna ball

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:21:00 +0500

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian reportedly stormed out of the lavish Vienna Opera Ball in Austria on Thursday night. The socialite was a guest of Austrian businessman Richard Lugner, 81, who has a history of doling out thousands of dollars to have famous women accompany him to the annual event. Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton, Sophia Loren, Raquel Welch and Lindsay Lohan have all served as Lugner's dates in the past. This year, he reportedly paid $500,000 for Kardashian to join him, but apparently the pair did not get on, according to TMZ.com. The gossip site reports Kardashian felt uncomfortable and left early. Other reports suggest the reality TV star skipped dinner and refused to dance with Lugner, leaving her mother Kris Jenner to take her place.

News Source:www.torontosun.com

First Comes Love... Christina Aguilera Announces Engagement And Pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 13:34:00 +0500

It looks like congratulations are in order for Christina Aguilera, who is not only newly engaged, but also expecting. Last week, the singer announced that she was engaged to boyfriend Matt Rutler, whom she met on the set of her 2010 movie Burlesque, where Rutler was working as a production assistant. Apparently the nursery rhyme was correct in this case, because less than a week later, Aguilera is announcing her pregnancy. Sources for People, who made the announcement, report that the couple could not be any happier. The engagement was announced right around Valentine’s day last week, by Christina herself. The Voice coach tweeted a short message to her fans: "He asked and I said……," and included a sweet photo of her hand, with the new addition of a gigantic diamond ring, holding Rutler’s hand with some beautiful beach scenery behind them. What an excellent way to pop the question. “They’re very much in love and are really excited to take this next step!” a source close to the pair tells People. This will be a second marriage as well as a second pregnancy for Aguilera, who was previously married to Jordan Bratman. The short lived marriage spawned Max Liron, Christina’s first son, who is six years old at the moment.

News Source:www.contactmusic.com

Pharrell's Upcoming Solo Album Is All About A G I R L

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 20:32:00 +0500

Pharrell Williams is about to make a lot of people very "Happy." The superstar producer and hook master announced that he's releasing his second solo album, G I R L, on March 3. According to the iTunes preview page for the album, it will feature 10 songs, including the "Despicable Me 2" soundtrack smash "Happy," which hit #1 on iTunes and could be headed to #1  on the Billboard Digital Songs chart this week. No other song titles are currently listed. A trailer for the album shows the producer in the studio with an orchestra clearly enjoying the creative process and, at the end, shedding a tear at the awesomeness he's created. "When Columbia Records presented me with the opportunity to make an album, three things came to mind," Pharrell said in a statement about the album. "One was the sense of overwhelming honor that I felt when I realized that they were interested in partnering with me on the album that I had always dreamt of making. Two, it would have to feel festive and urgent. And three, I instantly knew it would be called G I R L. I hope you like it." Pharrell's solo debut, In My Mind, was released in 2006 and it featured the single "Can I Have It Like That" with Gwen Stefani and "Number One" with Kanye West. Because he's Skateboard P, he, of course, also roped in a bunch of other stars to appear on that one, including Snoop Dogg and Charlie Wilson, Pusha T, Nelly and Slim Thug. He released a Neptunes compilation in 2003, and four albums with his band, N. E. R. D., including 2010's Nothing, which featured the singles "Hot-n-Fun" and "Hypnotize U," which was produced by his Grammy-winning robot pals in Daft Punk. Pharrell will perform "Happy" at the BRIT Awards in London on Wednesday (February 19) night and again on March 2 at the Academy Awards. He rocked the NBA All-Star game pre-show over the weekend, busting out a medley of his biggest hits with guests including Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Nelly, Diddy and Neptunes cohort Chad Hugo.

Nwes source:www.mtv.com

Kim Kardashian Films Without Makeup, Kanye West's Rep Addresses Cheating Rumors: Today's Top Stories Read more: http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/kim-kardashian-films-without-makeup-kanye-wests-rep-addresses-cheating-rumors

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 06:18:00 +0500

Pregnant Kim Kardashian keeps casual while filming Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Plus, the reality star's boyfriend, Kanye West, faces cheating rumors: See Us Weekly's top stories from Wednesday, June 12, in the roundup! 1. Kim Kardashian Films Without Makeup, Dresses Baby Bump in All Black Kim Kardashian is keeping it casual now that she's in the final weeks of her pregnancy. The 32-year-old reality star dressed her baby bump in all black and wore flip-flops (and virtually no makeup!) while filming a scene for Keeping Up With the Kardashians at The Vitamin Barn in Malibu on Tuesday, June 11. 2. Kanye West Did Not Cheat on Pregnant Kim Kardashian: Rep Don't believe the rumors. Amid allegations made by model Leyla Ghobadi that Kanye West cheated on pregnant Kim Kardashian with her, West's rep is setting the record straight. "This most recent attack on Kanye West and his family is totally without merit," his rep tells Us. 3. Farrah Abraham Tells Howard Stern: I Pleasure Myself to My Sex Tape Talk about self love! During a graphic tell-all interview on Howard Stern's Sirius XM radio show on Wednesday, June 12, Teen Mom and adult film star Farrah Abraham revealed she gets turned on by watching her own sex tape. 4. Kate Middleton Wears $42 ASOS Dress While Furniture Shopping: Picture Kate Middleton is just like Us! The pregnant Duchess of Cambridge stepped out wearing an affordable maternity dress in London on Tuesday, June 4, while shopping at a high-end furniture store. The price tag for her adorable ensemble? $42! 5. Maria Menounos: Jack Nicholson "Got Me Kicked Out" of a Lakers Game! Memo to sports fans everywhere: If you want to mess with the Lakers, you're going to have to go through Jack Nicholson first. The 76-year-old actor once got Extra host (and very vocal Boston Celtics fan) Maria Menounos kicked out of her seat at Staples Center.

News Source:www.usmagazine.com

‘Breaking Bad’ Star Aaron Paul Marries Lauren Parsekian

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Mon, 27 May 2013 08:11:00 +0500

"Breaking Bad" star Aaron Paul is off the market, b***ch! The 33-year-old actor, who plays foul-mouthed but big-hearted meth maker Jesse Pinkman on the AMC series, married his longtime girlfriend, Lauren Parsekian, in Malibu, California, on Sunday. "And so it begins," Paul had tweeted on Friday, along with a photo of the happy couple and the hashtag #mrmrspaul, hinting that the wedding weekend was underway. Then on Sunday, Parsekian posted a pic of herself getting her done to Instagram, writing, "Wedding time. Did my own make up!" According to Us Weekly, the actor and his groomsmen, including co-star Bryan Cranston wore black tuxes, while the bride donned a strapless Cinderella-style gown and white boots. The couple had planned a 1920s Parisian carnival-themed wedding and guests were reportedly asked to show up with masquerade masks. The couple met at Coachella Arts and Music Festival in Indio, California in 2010, and became friends. A year later, they returned to the fest and shared their first kiss on a Ferris wheel. "You know when people say, 'When you know, you know? It was crazy," Paul told GQ in 2012. "The moment that happened … I couldn't imagine myself being without her." On New Year's Eve 2011 they became engaged during a holiday getaway to Paris. Paul later recounted to People magazine how they were outside of a hotel, dancing to Édith Piaf by themselves, when he "begged her" to marry him, noting, "I'm the luckiest man on the planet.It doesn't make sense to me. The way she looks at me ... She has that magical glow about her." Clearly not shy about expressing his feelings for her, he also openly gushed about her during his acceptance speech at the 2012 Emmys, saying, "You truly saved me." Parsekian, 25, is a film director-producer, but also the co-founder of the nonprofit organization Kind Campaign, which is a movement, documentary, and school program established to eradicate girl-against-girl bullying. As a young girl growing up in Laguna Niguel, California, she was the target of bullying that got so bad, she actually attempted suicide. After their honeymoon, Paul will be gearing up for the final eight episodes of "Breaking Bad." The acclaimed drama returns August 11 to conclude its fifth and final season.

News Source:omg.yahoo.com

Jolie aunt dies of breast cancer days after op-ed

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Mon, 27 May 2013 07:51:00 +0500

Less than two weeks after Angelina Jolie revealed she'd had a double mastectomy to avoid breast cancer, her aunt died from the disease Sunday. Debbie Martin died at age 61 at a hospital in Escondido, Calif. near San Diego, her husband, Ron Martin, told The Associated Press. Debbie Martin was the younger sister of Jolie's mother, Marcheline Bertrand, whose own death from ovarian cancer in 2007 inspired the surgery that Jolie described in a May 14 op-ed in the New York Times. According to her husband, Debbie Martin had the same defective BRCA1 gene that Jolie does, but didn't know it until after her 2004 cancer diagnosis. "Had we known, we certainly would have done exactly what Angelina did," Ron Martin said in a phone interview. Debbie Martin's death was first reported by E! News. Ron Martin said after getting breast cancer, Debbie Martin had her ovaries removed preventively because she was also at very high genetic risk for ovarian cancer, which has killed several women in her family. The 37-year-old Jolie said in her op-ed that her doctors estimated that she had a 50 percent risk of getting ovarian cancer but an 87 percent risk of breast cancer so she had her breasts removed first, reducing her likelihood to a mere 5 percent. She described the three-step surgical process in detail in the op-ed "because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience." The story, a surprise to most save those closest to Jolie, spurred a broad discussion of genetic testing and pre-emptive surgery.

News Source:news.yahoo.com

JOSS WHEDON Talks Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver on Fallon

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Sun, 26 May 2013 15:15:00 +0500

Big-screen Avengers writer and director Joss Whedon appeared on Friday's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to promote his adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Along the way, he also discussed 2015's Avengers sequel, specifically his reasons for including Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, previously confirmed by Whedon to be in the current version of the script. "Their powers are very visually interesting," Whedon said. "One of the problems I had on the first one was everybody basically had punch-y powers," Whedon also acknowledged a fondness for them due to their prominent roles in comics he read as a kid, calling them "great mainstays in the Avengers." The appearance came one day after Fox's X-Men: Days of Future Past director Bryan Singer announced on Twitter that Quicksilver would appear in that movie (out in 2014), played by actor Evan Peters. Due to their significant history in both X-Men and Avengers comics, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch have been said by Marvel Studios president of production Kevin Feige to be a special case, where either Fox or Marvel could use the characters in a live-action feature. The news led to speculation among observers as to what prompted the Pietro Maximoff double-dip from the competing studios, with HitFix projecting it to be "a legally-negotiated stand-off in which we'll get two totally different versions of one character."

News Source:www.newsarama.com

Thunderstorms slow Oklahoma tornado cleanup

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:17:00 +0500

A band of thunderstorms battered the Oklahoma City area Thursday, slowing cleanup operations in the suburb where a tornado killed 24 people and destroyed thousands of homes this week. The first of the funerals, for a 9-year-old girl killed at a Moore elementary school that took a direct hit in Monday's storm, was scheduled for Thursday morning. A family photo showed the girl, Antonia Candelaria, beaming with a big smile and wearing a white sun hat. Early estimates indicate the tornado caused more than $2 billion of damage in Moore. Whole subdivisions in the fast-growing community of 56,000 people were destroyed. Authorities estimated that as many as 13,000 homes were damaged or destroyed and 33,000 people were affected — an especially traumatic toll for a city that had already suffered three other tornados since 1998. Two elementary schools were hit — one was leveled — by Monday's tornado. Candelaria was one of seven children who perished at the Plaza Towers Elementary School, a one story building with barely a wall left standing. Altogether, 10 children were killed in the storm, including two infants. The medical examiner reported that six of the children who died at Plaza Towers suffocated after being buried under a mass of bricks, steel and other materials as the building collapsed. A seventh child who died there, 8-year-old Kyle Davis, was killed instantly by an object — perhaps a large piece of stone or a beam — that fell on the back of his neck. Thursday's thunderstorms produced hail, heavy rain and high winds in the morning. A flash flood warning was also in effect. The National Weather Service said more severe storms were forecast for late afternoon and at night, and that more tornados were a possibility. The weather was hampering cleanup and recovery efforts that had just begun to accelerate now that all of the missing have been accounted for. Residents were only formally allowed back into the damage zone on Wednesday afternoon, where they picked through enormous piles of debris. Shayne Patteson was among them, moving around the ruins of his three-bedroom home. All that was left was the tiny area where his wife hunkered down under a mattress to protect their three children when a tornado packing winds of at least 200 mph slammed through his neighborhood. Patteson vowed to rebuild, likely in the same place, but said next time he will have an underground storm shelter. "That is the first thing that will be going into the design of the house, is the storm shelter and the garage," he said as he looked around piles of bricks and plywood where their home once stood. Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis said Wednesday he would propose an ordinance in the next couple of days to require all new homes to have storm shelters. The city already has some. After a massive tornado tore a near-identical path in 1999, city authorities provided incentives such as federal grant dollars to help residents cover the costs of safe rooms. This time, though, Lewis thinks it is necessary to compel people to include them in all new construction.

News Source:news.yahoo.com

Carole King Honored With Gershwin Prize at White House Ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:06:00 +0500

Carole King was was presented with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song at the White House last night by President Obama, who called the singer-songwriter a "living legend," The Associated Press reports. "It is yet another of the many important messages to young women that women matter, women make a difference," King said in an interview with the AP. "That popular music is recognized by the Library of Congress as being worthy of a place in history is especially significant to me." Carole King Musical Aims for Broadway King became the first woman ever to win the Gerswhin Prize, which is given by the Library of Congress each year. Previous recipients include Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon. King accepted the award on behalf of the co-writers she worked with throughout her career, including Hal David and Gerry Goffin, who helped her craft such classic songs as "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "You've Got A Friend." Held just two days after a tornado ravaged Moore, Oklahoma, President Obama spoke of rebuilding and recovery, and the role music can play in that process: "Eventually, life will go on and new memories will be made. New laughter will come. New songs will be sung," he said. "And that's often why we turn to music during trying times, for comfort and for inspiration, and sometimes just for a good diversion." King opened the show playing the piano before taking a seat next to the president and Vice President Joe Biden; she closed the ceremony as well with a duet of "You've Got a Friend" alongside James Taylor. Gloria Estefan, Trisha Yearwood and Emeli Sandé further honored King with a rendition of her "Will You Love Me Tomorrow." King also performed "I Believe in Loving You," she co-written with Hal David, a Gershwin Prize recipient who died last year: "I'm hoping that this will become a song that people will want to play at their weddings," she said of the track, which she hopes to release as a single. "It's so romantic. Hal is such a great writer, and his words live on forever." At 71, King seemed ready to retire last year following the release of her memoir A Natural Woman, but has since toured Australia and is set to perform at a benefit concert for victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. "I still feel that it would be lovely to retire, but that time is not yet here apparently," King said. Last night's tribute was a part of Obama's "In Performance at the White House" series, and the show will air on PBS on May 28th.

News Source:www.rollingstone.com

Selena Gomez Goes Without Makeup, Shows Lighter Hair Color

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:47:00 +0500

Selena Gomez showed off her lighter side on May 21 while strolling in London. With her face free of makeup and her long hair colored several shades lighter than normal, the "Come & Get It" singer, while still undeniably gorgeous, looked nearly unrecognizable. PHOTOS: Selena's sexy style Wearing yellow-rimmed sunglasses, a loose black coat, black and white printed pants, and black loafers, the stylish singer, 20, looked diminutive, especially since she was toting a large Apple laptop and an oversized white carry-all. Gomez's lighter hair color, colored in an ombre style (with the ends much lighter than the rest of the hair), is a new look for Gomez. A source tells Us that Gomez had her locks highlighted at Nine Zero One Salon in West Hollywood, CA, on May 12: "She is lighter than she's ever been." "She wanted to do something new for the Billboard Awards," says the source. "Going lighter is something new for her." PHOTOS: Selena and Justin -- the way they were At the award show on May 19, the singer not only debuted her new hair hue, she also reunited (yet again) with beau Justin Bieber. A video at the event captured BFF Taylor Swift sticking her tongue out in disapproval after spotting Gomez and Bieber kissing. Tell Us: Do you like Selena Gomez's hair dark or lighter?

Article Source:omg.yahoo.com

Michael Jackson paranoid, anxious, obsessive, director says

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:41:00 +0500

Five days before he died, Michael Jackson was in such a sorry mental state that the director of his ill-fated “This Is It” concert series said he needed a psychiatric evaluation. Kenny Ortega sent the June 20, 2009, email to Randy Phillips, president and chief executive of AEG Live, which was putting on the 50 London concerts. He wrote “trouble at the front” in the email’s subject line. “I honestly don’t think he is ready for this based on the continued physical weakening and deepening emotional state,” Ortega wrote. “There are strong signs of paranoia, anxiety and obsessive-like behavior. I think the very best thing we can do is get a top Psychiatrist in to evaluate him ASAP. It’s like there are two people there. One (deep inside) trying to hold on to what he was and still can be and not wanting us to quit him, the other in his weakened and troubled state … I honestly felt if I had encouraged or allowed him on stage last night he could have hurt himself. I believe we need professional guidance in this matter.” The email was shown to the jury in the Jackson wrongful death lawsuit during the testimony of Shawn Trell, AEG’s senior vice president and general counsel. He said he learned of Jackson’s frail condition from Phillips and Paul Gongaware, another top executive, at a meeting of AEG Live’s executive committee. Trell said the company’s response was to hold a meeting that day with Jackson and his doctor, Conrad Murray. “…so I think they took it seriously,” he said. Phillips turned down the request for a psychiatrist. In emails previously published by The Times, Phillips wrote, "It is critical that neither you, me or anyone around this show become amateur psychiatrists or physicians." At the meeting, Jackson said he would improve and Murray agreed to help. Others have said that Jackson did great during the next two days of rehearsals. "Michael and the doctor stressed that he was OK. They had it under control," Marvin Putnam, AEG’s attorney, has said. Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for giving Jackson a fatal dose of the anesthetic propfol to treat his insomnia. His mother and three children have sued Anschutz Entertainment Group, saying the company negligently hired and supervised Murray. AEG says that any money it was supposed to pay Murray was an advance to Jackson.

News Source:www.latimes.com

Cannes 2013: Nicole Kidman, Ang Lee and Christoph Waltz join jury

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:45:00 +0500

Might it be the most star-studded Cannes jury in history? The world's most famous film festival has announced that this year's president, Steven Spielberg, will be joined by a cavalcade of heavyweight figures – including Oscar winners Ang Lee, Christoph Waltz and NicoleKidman. The glittering quartet will be joined by Britain's Lynne Ramsay, perhaps with time on her hands after exiting the Natalie Portman indie western Jane's Got a Gun, French cinema icon Daniel Auteuil, Romanian film-maker Cristian Mungiu, Japanese director Naomi Kawase and Bollywood star Vidya Balan. Mungiu, Ramsay, Auteuil and Kawase are all past Cannes award-winners. Ramsay took a Youth prize in 2002 for her elliptical drama Morvern Callar, while Kawase won the Camera d'Or for Suzaku in 1997 and the Grand Prix in 2007 for The Mourning Forest. Auteuil won the best actor award at Cannes in 1996 for drama The Eighth Day. Mungiu is the only figure on the jury to have taken home the festival's top Palme d'Or prize, which he won in 2007 for the harrowing drama 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. "We have only one criteria and that is already done for the president – the legitimacy," festival artistic director Thierry Fremaux told the Hollywood Reporter. "So for the jury, Steven Spielberg will be the centre and we are finishing it with great people." He added: "We have a lot of film-makers coming from all over the world. They need to be sure that those who make the decisions about the awards have their own legitimacy and the respect to do that." The 66th Cannes film festival runs from 15 to 26 May. The only woman ever to have won an Oscar and a Palme d'Or, Jane Campion, will oversee the Cinéfondation and short film competitions, while Amélie's Audrey Tautou will host the opening and closing ceremonies.

News Source:www.guardian.co.uk

Jennifer Lawrence Rocks New Short Haircut at GLAAD Media Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 21:55:00 +0500

Jennifer Lawrence has always been a cut above -- and now she has the hair to match. On Saturday, April 20, the Silver Linings Playbook Oscar-winner debuted a short new 'do at the 2013 GLAAD Media Awards presented by Ketel One Vodka, where she was joined by celebs including Drew Barrymore, Charlize Theron, Darren Criss, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Prior to taking the stage with famed movie exec Harvey Weinstein, the Hunger Games actress posed for photographs on the red carpet inside the JW Marriott at L.A. Live. Her formerly long blonde locks were shorn into shoulder-length layers with side-swept bangs, like a longer version of model Karlie Kloss' chin-length chop, which The New York Times dubbed "the haircut of the year" in January. The chic style complemented her equally chic ensemble: a black flared David Koma dress with sheer detailing, matching black Nicholas Kirkwood heels, and jewelry by David Webb. Lawrence -- recently named one of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World -- was on hand to introduce former President Bill Clinton, who received the Advocate for Change Award. During his acceptance speech, he joked that he was like a dinosaur next to the 22-year-old star. It looked like "she was touring the Museum of Natural History" backstage, Clinton, 66, quipped playfully, noting that "she was like 2 years old" when he took office in January 1993. (In fact, that's not an exaggeration; the actress was born in August 1990.) Lawrence, for her part, endeared herself to both the politician and the crowd when she tripped over President Clinton's name in her introduction and accidentally read some of Weinstein's lines instead of her own. "It's not my comfort zone," she recently told U.K. magazine Fabulous of speaking in public. "Making movies is where I belong. I shouldn't be heard just talking. So, when I'm doing movies, I'm really happy. That's where I'm comfortable, that's my home. When you put me on a red carpet or on a stage, I turn into chihuahua Jennifer."

News Source:omg.yahoo.com

New Sandra Bullock comedy a ‘love letter’ to Boston

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 19:07:00 +0500

Las Vegas -- The director and stars of the new cop comedy The Heat say they hope their film will provide some comic relief to Bostonians in the wake of Monday’s marathon bombings. Director Paul Feig and actresses Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy promoted The Heat on Thursday at CinemaCon, the annual convention of theatre exhibitors. The Heat casts Bullock and McCarthy as an FBI agent and a Boston cop forced together to take on a violent drug lord. “The movie is such a love letter to Boston,” Feig (Bridesmaids) said on the press line before presenting the film’s trailer to a theatre full of exhibitors. “It’s not a movie where it’s supposed to be New York but it’s shot in Boston,” he continued. “This takes place in Boston. We have Boston natives in the movie, like Jane Curtin and (comic-actor) Bill Burr and (New Kids on the Block member) Joey McIntyre — all these famous Bostonians are in it. And if this movie can help Boston laugh, than that would be great.” There is at least one major explosion and some Lethal Weapon-style action violence in the film — portions of which were filmed last year in and around Boston. Noted Bullock, “I think having been there, having had our entire crew around us all the time, who are all from Boston, you’re just hoping. And when you see the aftermath, I try to look on the other side, which is, ‘Look how amazing the people were. Look at those people that ran towards everyone without thinking twice about themselves.”’ Bullock, McCarthy and Feig each expressed hope there would be screenings of the film in Boston to assist the bombing victims, but they said no plans had firmed up. A spokesperson for the film’s distributor, 20th Century Fox, said via email, “We plan to screen the film in Boston timed to release. It’s not pegged to a charity or recent events. Just a special screening in the town where it was shot.”

News Source:www.vancouversun.com

MTV Movie Awards: Secrets From Inside the Auditorium

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:07:00 +0500

From Rebel Wilson's rousing opening number to Brad Pitt's shimmery gold flyaway hairs, there was plenty to see on this year's MTV Movie Awards telecast. But omg! was in the audience, and we've got a rundown on what didn't make it -- or, at very least, was censored -- on this year's big show. Aubrey Plaza: Most Wanted. What was the deal with Plaza and Will Ferrell? Ferrell was on hand to accept the show's Comedic Genius prize when, halfway through his acceptance speech, "Parks and Recreation" actress Plaza bum-rushed the stage. [Related: 2013 MTV Movie Awards Celebrity Arrivals] Barefoot with drink in hand and the title of her new movie, "The To Do List," scrawled on her décolletage, she silently tried to wrestle the trophy from Will for a few awkward moments. She then returned to her seat, spilled her drink, and the speech went on. Contrary to rumors, it was not a stunt dreamed up by show producers. During the next commercial, Plaza was escorted by security from the Sony Pictures lot, where the ceremony was being broadcast live. MTV News reported that she was cooperative as she was led out. Like Taylor Lautner's pocket junk, and "full moon"? "The Twilight Saga" took its Movie Awards bow on Sunday, as Lautner was the last qualifying cast member to get nominated for an award from the shuttered franchise. He nabbed a golden popcorn trophy for Best Shirtless Performance (he was a shoo-in!) and decided to greet the honor with a gag beer gut. Rifling through his pockets looking for a speech, a slew of goods fell out. What were they? Candy, including Twizzlers and Lemonheads, and a few VIP wristbands scattered everywhere. And while the cameras gave him a more forgiving angle as he put his popcorn beside him onstage, he definitely half-mooned the crowd as his jeans slipped. Ahh -- but that was part of his joke, too! He was also rocking a fake rear. [Related: MTV Movie Awards Most Bizarre Moments] How did Seth Rogen's, uh, crotch wig stay on? Rogen, who presented the shirtless award to Lautner with Danny McBride and Zac Efron, boasted about his anatomy with the men -- soon dropping trou to reveal a massive pubic wig (aka merkin). A quick flash of an elastic waistband confirmed to omg! that Rogen didn't go the hot glue route, but rocked the wig belt-style. Won't you sleep easier now? And as long as we're on the hair train... Brad Pitt's attention span. He of the aforementioned golden flyaways, Pitt, closed the show by presenting Best Movie to Marvel's 'The Avengers." Make no mistake, Brad was in the house to begin paving the box office road to his June epic "World War Z." But that doesn't mean he didn't have some fun. A production assistant assigned to show Pitt his mark and point out the prompter seemed stressed moments before the live show resumed for Brad's spot. Why? The A-lister wouldn't stop playing with the audience. Slapping high fives, blowing kisses and working every angle of the fan area, Pitt and his public were having a big ole love fest. But he got it together when the cameras rolled. Kerry Washington's on-stage scandal. Another golden PA moment came when "Django Unchained" actress Washington paid tribute to this year's Generation Award winner Jamie Foxx. After Kerry said some kind words to set up a clip package from a riser, she made her way centerstage with the help of a nice young man in a headset -- who bulldozed the yellow train of her Michael Kors dress. She teetered for a few tense seconds but regained her balance, and the PA carefully inspected the gown for footprints. She smiled throughout.

News Source:omg.yahoo.com

How Chuck Schumer plays the congressional chessboard

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 20:42:00 +0500

In the run-up to the November elections, Chuck Schumer worked tirelessly in attacking Republicans, from congressional conservatives to GOP frontman Mitt Romney. Since then, New York's senior Democratic senator has clocked more hours negotiating with his Republican colleagues than anyone else on his side of the aisle. Part of this reflects the natural rhythm of politics: The year after a presidential election can often be Washington's most productive. But a man who has spent his life in Congress shifting between expert political hatchet man and tenacious dealmaker may also sense a moment when the Republicans are particularly vulnerable – or receptive – to cutting deals as a result of changed dynamics on the Hill. "He's a great legislative chess player and knows intuitively when it's time to strike and when it's time to wait," says Jim Kessler, a longtime Schumer staffer and now a senior member of the Third Way, a Democratic centrist think tank. RECOMMENDED: So you think you know Congress? Take our quiz. Clearly, the voluble senior senator thinks it's time to strike. First, he teamed up with a crew of other Senate veterans, led by John McCain (R) of Arizona and Carl Levin (D) of Michigan, to hatch a compromise forestalling sweeping changes to the Senate's filibuster rules. Then there's Senator Schumer's long-unrequited love, immigration reform, in which he leads the Democratic contingent in the bipartisan "Gang of Eight." That's the group in the Senate that many lawmakers and advocates believe will deliver the opening bill in the immigration-reform debate in early April. Finally, there's the continuation of Schumer's legacy in the House, where his determination to pass the 1994 crime bill (containing a ban on assault weapons, among other provisions) is carrying over to President Obama's push to strengthen the nation's gun laws. Schumer went right for the "sweet spot," as he calls it, of universal background checks in negotiations with staunch pro-gun lawmakers like Sens. Joe Manchin (D) of West Virginia and Tom Coburn (R) of Oklahoma. While prospects for a background check deal have dimmed, it is the proposal that perhaps best explains Schumer: Background checks are widely regarded as the most impactful piece of legislation gun-control advocates in Congress could dream of passing – if someone would take on the task of finessing the details behind the scenes to bring Republicans and centrist Democrats on board. As the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, Schumer is one of the left's premier political strategists and spokesmen. Though he clearly relishes political combat in the right venue – he's a two-time leader of the typically thankless chairmanship of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee – he represents a particular breed of dealmaker: someone who combines policy understanding with a keen political sense and an intuitive knack for legislating. He also knows where the money is. "Schumer has power to do this because of the stature he's earned in the party in terms of money and distribution of campaign funds," says Julian Zelizer, a congressional historian at Princeton University. "And his role in the leadership gives him a little clout and a little more flexibility to make these kinds of deals." To be sure, Schumer is often lampooned as hurtling from one television camera to the next, someone never far from the klieg lights. But Schumer also understands how to keep politics and policy in proper perspective. "He has very few permanent enemies," says Mr. Kessler. "If people play fair, even if they play rough and hard, he thinks, 'That's the way this is done and that's OK....' For someone with as many rough edges as a Brooklyn Democrat often has, he seeks out the genuineness of other people intuitively and will find a way to work with them." (He's also known to harbor another intuitive talent – finding romantic connections between his staffers. One recent New York Times profile called him the "Yenta of the Senate.") Unlike some lawmakers on the Hill, Schumer revels in the boisterous process of legislating. It's in his DNA. In 1998, he turned down a potential run for governor of New York to enter a messy Democratic Senate primary for the right to challenge then-Sen. Al D'Amato (R). "In Congress, I really found my métier," Schumer said during a campaign stop that year. "'I love to legislate. Taking an idea, often not original with me, shaping it, molding it. Building a coalition of people who might not completely agree with it. Passing it and making the country a little bit of a better place. I love doing that. The Senate desperately needs legislators. The old-time legislators are gone."

News Source:news.yahoo.com

Bruno Mars' Sisters, The Lylas, Land Reality Show on WE tv

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 10:59:00 +0500

Bruno Mars' sisters will get the spotlight on a new unscripted series. WE tv has picked up reality show "The Lylas" starring Mars' singing sisters Jaime Kailani, Tiara, Tahiti and Presley. The show will air on the cable channel Friday nights starting this fall. Tiara, Tahiti and Presley have moved from their hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii to join their older sister Jaime in Los Angeles to pursue their dreams. The eight-part, hour-long show will follow the four sisters, known as singing group The Lylas (Love You Like a Sister), as they record their first album. "The Lylas are fierce, independent women, leaving their home - and in some cases their relationships and kids - for a chance at pursuing their love of music," says Lauren Gellert, SVP of production & development at WE tv. "Their story is one filled with all of the drama and chaos that comes from making a major life change, with the added spice of doing it alongside your sisters." The Lylas debuted their "Come Back" music video in January. Featuring the girls playing piano and writing lyrics, the video has hit more than 285,000 views. In addition to "The Lylas", WE tv is gearing up to debut new reality show "Pregnant & Dating", about five single moms searching for love, this summer. Another unscripted series, "The Ruckers: Southern Royals", which follows three sisters on a journey to uphold their family legacy, will premiere in fall. The Lylas' "Come Back" music video:

News Source:www.aceshowbiz.com

Washington jury rejects claim of actress who sued IMDb

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:06:00 +0500

A federal jury in Seattle on Thursday rejected a claim brought by a little-known actress who first lied about how old she was on the popular Internet Movie Database, then sued the company when it published her true age. Huong Hoang goes by the stage name Junie Hoang and has appeared in such films as "Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver" and "Hoodrats 2: Hoodrat Warriors." Her lawsuit generated a lot of media attention when she filed it -- anonymously, at first -- in 2011. She said she intended for her case to highlight online privacy as well as age discrimination in Hollywood, and she initially sought $1 million in damages. "My hope was that it would make a change in the database," Hoang told The Associated Press after the verdict. "I knew it was a problem not just for me but for anyone else who had their age on their profile." The 41-year-old claimed offers for roles dried up after the popular online movie database mined her account information to learn her true age, then posted it on her profile in 2008. She sued for breach of contract, and the case went to trial this week. The judge dismissed IMDb's parent company, Amazon.com, as a defendant before the trial. IMDb argued that it has a First Amendment right to publish accurate information. It also said Hoang couldn't prove she lost any money or roles because of it, and even if she could, she couldn't prove it was IMDb's fault. "Hoang did not present any testimony, documents, or other evidence supporting her damages allegations of lost income and profits," the company's lawyers wrote in a court filing at the end of the trial. IMDb.com is an searchable database that includes more than 2 million pages for movies, television and entertainment programs, as well as 4 million cast and crew members. Hoang signed up for a subscription service with the website called IMDb Pro. The service is designed for entertainment industry professionals. It provides contact information and other details for the actors, actresses, directors and others listed. She said she initially listed a false birth year -- 1978, instead of 1971 -- because she usually plays characters younger than she is. But eventually, she moved from her hometown of Houston, Texas, to the more competitive entertainment market of Los Angeles, and as what would have been her fake 30th birthday approached, she decided she didn't want any age listed on her profile. IMDb refused to remove the age listed unless she could provide evidence that it was incorrect. She asked the company to check its records to see if it had any information that would substantiate that age. The company did so -- using her account information to find her real name, and then using her real name to conduct a public records search and discover her true age. IMDb posted her real age on her profile, over her objections. She claimed that the company breached its contract with her by misusing the account information she provided in violation of its privacy policy. The company disagreed, noting that the privacy policy stated that it maintained its customers' information "for such purposes as responding to your requests." Hoang said she plans to keep acting. She played Sandy in "Gingerdead Man 3," a sequel to a 2005 Gary Busey movie in which "an evil yet adorable gingerbread man comes to life with the soul of a convicted killer," according to a description on IMDb. Other credits include a part as a triage nurse in the television series "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant," and as the part of Janet in "My Big Phat Hip Hop Family."

News Source:www.foxnews.com

Julie Taymor - Jilted Spider-Man Broadway Director Julie Taymor Reaches Settlement

noreply@blogger.com (Adnan Bhatti) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:43:00 +0500

Jilted Spider-Man Broadway Director Julie Taymor Reaches Settlement News broke yesterday (April 10, 2013) that Julie Taymor, the jilted director of the ill-fated Spiderman Broadway production has finally reached a settlement with the show’s producers. However, we do not know what that settlement was, as the details have not been made public, Reuters reported. Taymor was fired from Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark back in March 2011 after she got into disputes with producers over injuries sustained by actors during high wire stunts, delays in the arrival of the opening night and critical disdain for the show when that opening night finally arrived. Up until that point, Taymor had worked on the show for years and had previously been given a Tony award for best direction of a musical, for The Lion King. After Taymore had been ousted, she claims that the revamped production used much of her original libretto. She took the case to court, seeking unpaid royalties and damages at her estimation of over $1 million. She also appealed for a permanent injunction, preventing the producers from licensing the musical beyond Broadway without her consent. The recent settlement means that a planned court date on May 27 will no longer go ahead. The show is one of the most expensive musicals ever to have ventured onto the Broadway stage and features music from U2’s Bono and The Edge. It has become a huge commercial success, often earning in excess of $1 million per week. In a statement, Taymor said “I'm pleased to have reached an agreement and hope for the continued success of Spider-Man, both on Broadway and beyond.”

News Source:www.contactmusic.com