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Archive: March 2007
Guilty Pleasure: Movies to Watch Again and Again
(Image courtesy Paramount Pictures) The first time I saw "Airplane" it was projected on the wall of my family's villa in Italy. I was maybe nine years old and thought an inflatable autopilot, a guy who spilled drinks down his face and, well, feces hitting a fan was hi-larious. As I matured, I found new nuances to delight me in "Airplane" -- the teen me felt smug recognizing cameos from Barbara Billingsley, Kareem Abdul Jabar and a young Joe Izuzu (David Leisure). As an adult, I snicker at the subtle (and not so subtle) dialogue and I have finally come to appreciate Julie Hagerty. I've also been known to fast forward through the DVD to hear the lines from Stephen Stucker's Johnny ("I can make a hat or a brooch or a pterodactyl.") "Airplane" is just one of the movies contained in a box I keep close at hand....
By Liz | March 30, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (326)
Morning Mix: Britney & K-Fed Reach Divorce Deal
Headlines: Britney Spears and Kevin Federline reach divorce settlement... Aide denies Michael Jackson admitted to hospital for pneumonia... Bono made knight of the British empire... George Clooney denies leaking "Huckabees" fight (Warning: Video isn't office or kid friendly) to Web sites... Eddie Griffin says Ferrari crash was no stunt... Back pain limits Heather Mills's dance rehearsals... Wesley Snipes and wife welcome baby boy... Halle Berry says she attempted suicide after first divorce... Posh and Becks get matching hairdos... Alec Baldwin offers to pay soldier's college tuition... Michelle Branch stalker arrested at concert... Paris Hilton could face jail time for probation violation. Rumor Mill: Dolly Parton fantasizes about Keith Urban and petite women... Leonardo DiCaprio and Bar Rafaeli planning June wedding?... Nick Nolte to be a dad at 66... Sarah Michelle Gellar in talks to join Batman sequel. P.S. Design Michael Jackson's robot; wax dummies vs. the real thing. Quote of...
By Liz | March 30, 2007; 7:54 AM ET | Comments (19)
Lost Dueling Analyses: Death to Poochie(s)
washingtonpost.com movies editrix Jen Chaney and I overanalyze last night's episode of "Lost." Warning: There are spoilers. Buh-bye Nikki (Kiele Sanchez) and Paolo (Rodrigo Santoro). (Photo courtesy ABC) Jen: I never thought I'd say this, but I actually enjoyed the Nikki/Paolo episode. Okay, so the twist ending was basically stolen from an episode of either "The Twilight Zone," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Amazing Stories" or all of the above. Still, it was nice to have a new mini-mystery to distract from the larger mysteries. I also thought it was interesting to follow the Locke episode with another installment about paralysis. What did you think? Liz: I'm out of sorts because last night played like one big wet desperate Valentine to longtime fans who despised the bungled addition of Nikki and Paolo (AKA the Poochies). The execution (no pun intended) was manic -- part "Scooby Doo," part "Murder She Wrote," part Edgar...
By Liz | March 29, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Diddy's 30-Hour Love
Headlines: Andre Agassi sells memoir for more than $5 million... Jenny from the Block returns to the Bronx to promote new album... Chris Sligh voted off "American Idol"... Ryan Seacrest escapes E! Networks bomb threat... Courtney Love drops 45 pounds... Mia Hamm delivers twin girls... Halle Berry gets Walk of Fame star... Rights to O.J. Simpson book to be auctioned in April... Black Eyed Peas's Taboo arrested for suspected DUI following crash... Howard K. Stern files appeal in paternity case... Foxy Brown pleads not guilty to Florida assault charges... Scott Weiland's wife blames bipolar disorder for arson, hotel wreckage... "The Goonies" may get Broadway musical treatment. Rumor Mill: Diddy claims he's a 30-hour lover... Britney Spears returns to hospital with more tooth pain... Pax Jolie targeted in kidnapping scheme... Former Jane Magazine editor says she had sex with Drew Barrymore... Sacha Baron Cohen ("Borat") and girlfriend expecting first child?... "Lost's"...
By Liz | March 29, 2007; 8:02 AM ET | Comments (22)
The World According to Gwyneth
The very model of a modern major actress? Gwyneth Paltrow in 'Emma.' (AP) Gwyneth Paltrow seems to have an uncanny talent for opening her mouth and instantly alienating some sector of the population, if not all of humanity. Last year, Paltrow danced dangerously close to "against us" territory when she was quoted as observing that Brits make wittier dinner companions than Americans. Though she later said she's durn proud to be an American and blamed her rudimentary Spanish for any misunderstanding, she did observe that Europe's older culture is a distinctly different place where people "work to live." Earlier this month, Paltrow -- married to Coldplay singer Chris Martin and mother to two children, one of whom she named "Apple" in all earnestness -- described herself as a "housewife" (and dormant artist) and deigned to give us a little insight to her kids' playdates with the children of Madonna...
By Liz | March 28, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Paris Hilton Draws Fire for Dwarf Cat
Headlines: Paulina Porizkova eliminated from "Dancing With the Stars"... Annie Liebovitz to photograph Queen Elizabeth... Heather Locklear lands ABC comedy pilot... Lisa Rinna to guest star on "Entourage"... Wynonna Judd files for divorce following husband's arrest... Former Hollywood lobbyist Jack Valenti suffers stroke... "Laguna Beach's" Jessica Smith arrested for DUI. Rumor Mill: Paris Hilton draws fire for purchasing dwarf cat... Victoria Beckham and Katie Holmes plan line of kids' clothes... Lindsay Lohan warns estranged dad to stay away... Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen set to receive twin nose jobs (second item)... Is Nicole Kidman expecting?... Jack White to play Elvis?... 7-Elevens may transform into "real" Kwik-E-Marts ahead of "Simpsons" movie....
By Liz | March 28, 2007; 7:55 AM ET | Comments (0)
Celebritology 101: The Art of the Blind Item
Which pop diva makes her friend go out undercover to get fried chicken so her mom doesn't find out? Which pop megastar celebrated his visit to NYC last week with an east Village go-go dancer and gay-for-pay rent boy? "He was fat, completely hairless and doesn't really like being touched," says the young gentleman. Which starlet amuses friends by carting her cocaine around town in a simply darling little Hello Kitty change purse? Sometimes there is no more satisfying read than the questionable, and often ridiculously sublime, blind item. As in the examples above, the blind item -- long a staple of gossip columnists hoping to avoid messy litigation or add a little spice to an otherwise slow news day -- hits that irresistible sweet spot between salacious hearsay and our desire to fill in the blanks. Of course, here at Celebritology we would never engage in blind item generation...
By Liz | March 27, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Tony Parker Releases Rap Album
Headlines: Anna Nicole Smith had nine prescription drugs (list) in system... Snoop Dogg and Diddy scrap U.K. tour... Tony Parker releases rap album... Gwen Stefani to appear on "Idol" tonight... Jessica Simpson donates minivan to Mexican orphanage... Prince William gets handful of Brazilian fan... Britney Spears's official Web site updated with old pic, fan well-wishes... Bill Clinton defends Spears... Kid Rock dating Victoria's Secret model... Kal Penn ("Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle") goes back to school... Comedian Eddie Griffin OK after Ferrari wreck... Eminem and ex-wife agree not to insult each other in public... Busta Rhymes to stand trial on assault charges... Rocker Scott Weiland's wife arrested for torching clothes. Rumor Mill: Britney Spears's security guard pulls gun on photographer... Brother says Angelina Jolie's not eating... Hugh Grant reunites with Jemima Khan, penning "dark, disturbing" novel... Jude Law dating Natalie Portman?... Jeremy Piven leaves waiter an "Entourage" DVD...
By Liz | March 27, 2007; 7:48 AM ET | Comments (0)
Comment Box: Britney's Promise, Sanjaya's Future
Any idea of the cred of the rehab facility Britney was in? I think it's called Promises? She leaves after 26 days -- usual stint is 30 or 45. -- Submitted to last week's Celebritology Live chat Promises has been in business for 18 years and the facility's Web site boasts that celebrities, grandparents and heads of state looking to get clean have all chosen them for treatment. And, in fact, previous alums include Charlie Sheen and Ben Affleck. While I can't seem to find any mention about length of stay on the site, prospective clients can peruse a Web gallery featuring pix of the oceanfront property, activities like horseback riding and orchid blossoms placed serenely on beds. The facility reportedly runs $1,600 a night and most clients stay a minimum of 30 days. Maybe Tom Cruise should check himself into rehab, the celeb fashion of the moment. Oh, wait....
By Liz | March 26, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Britney Tries Hip-Hop, Visits Hospital
Update: Officials say Anna Nicole Smith's died of overdose. -- 10:49 a.m. ET Headlines: Anna Nicole Smith autopsy reports expected at 10:30 a.m. ET (also see Rumor Mill below)... Britney Spears emerges from post-rehab seclusion to attend hip-hop class, go to the hospital for toothache... K-Fed celebrates birthday with kids and ex Shar Jackson... Mel Gibson drops the F-bomb on heckler... 90-year-old Kirk Douglas sets up MySpace page (but only has one friend so far, and it's Tom!)... Oprah Winfrey to name new book club pick... New Miss USA crowned, bringing Tara Conner's news-making reign to an end... Elton John celebrates 60th birthday at Madison Square Garden... Emma Watson signs on for final "Harry Potter" movies... Naomi Campbell wraps up community service in evening gown... Roseanne Barr buys Hawaiian macadamia nut farm... Snoop Dogg denied visa for U.K. concert dates... Photographers sue Denise Richards and Pamela Anderson in alleged assault...
By Liz | March 26, 2007; 7:33 AM ET | Comments (0)
Friday Task: Cast a New Mötley Crüe
(Harper Collins) A ray of metallic sunshine entered our lives last fall when rumors of a movie based on the Mötley Crüe bio-book "The Dirt" began coalescing into actual pre-production and "Borat" director Larry Charles (whose impressive resume also includes "Seinfeld," "Entourage," "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "The Tick") was attached to the project. But, since then, not much has happened to this Holy Grail of rock tales, which holds the promise of "This Is Spinal Tap," "The Decline of Western Civilization Part II" and "Almost Famous" rolled into one big fat decadent hair band orgy. The movie's IMDB page hasn't been updated in months and once solid buzz about Christopher Walken's being hired to portray Ozzy Osbourne is now shaky at best. Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee and Mick Mars celebrate the unveiling of their star on the Walk of Fame. (AP) Call me a dreamer, but my...
By Liz | March 23, 2007; 10:53 AM ET | Comments (32)
Morning Mix: Anna Nicole Autopsy Report Coming Monday
Headlines: Anna Nicole Smith autopsy report to be released Monday; Smith's diaries sell for over $500K... New Diana death photos to be aired... Brangelina donate $100,000 to Sudan clinic... Dina Lohan booted from "View" appearance... Jenna Fischer bares all for Wired magazine... Lily Tomlin calls "Huckabees" freak out "liberating"... Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet reuniting in new movie... Britney Spears wins injunction against British press... Jesse Metcalfe ("Desperate Housewives") enters rehab... Florida judge issues warrant for Foxy Brown... "Stella" author Terry McMillan sues ex for $40 million... LAX security screeners accused of stealing from celebrities. Rumor Mill: Johnny Depp's daughter had E.Coli virus... Paul McCartney dating British society heiress?... John Travolta not allowed to mention Scientology in Germany... Mark Wahlberg says he stole the same car 15 times... Eva Longoria's dog to take part in wedding ceremony....
By Liz | March 23, 2007; 8:03 AM ET | Comments (16)
Lost Analysis: Un-Locke-ing Some Island Mysteries
If you haven't yet watched last night's episode, "The Man from Tallahassee," you may want to do so before reading the following dispatch, in which post.com movie editrix Jen Chaney and I bicker, make lame jokes and generally kvetch about this week's episode of "Lost." John Locke (Terry O'Quinn) looks down the hatch of a submarine. (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: A week ago I was despondent after being subjected to the third in a series of weak episodes. Last night's revealing Locke-centric hour pulled me back into the fold, though. The writers again managed to craft a show in which the back story is integral to the events unfolding on the island and that, my friend, makes all the difference. But since I can never be totally satisfied, I'd like to register my growing annoyance with Kate. Her insistence on stalking Jack to the Others' compound, her visible jealousy of...
By Liz | March 22, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (80)
Morning Mix: Carmen Electra Says She's Not Dating Joan Jett
Headlines: Gisele Bundchen denies pregnancy rumors... Rep says hypoglycemia responsible for Nicole Richie's fainting spell... Paul McCartney signed to new Starbucks music label, sends Heather Mills flowers after dance debut... Photo: Jacko's ninja kids... Russell Crowe to make directorial debut... Elton John releasing all his albums online... Vivica A. Fox arrested for suspected DUI... Calvert DeForest (aka Larry "Bud" Melman) dies... Woody Harrelson's father dies in Supermax prison. Rumor Mill: Carmen Electra denies she's dating Joan Jett... Angelina Jolie sells rights to pix of new son... Tom Cruise orders Katie Holmes to cut back on shopping, calls Beckhams 18 times in one hour. Mystifying Quote of the Day: "If I looked like a tire, they wouldn't even give a damn. And I'm not that hot, trust me." -- Dina Lohan invokes auto parts to help explain why the paparazzi are fixated on her relationship with daughter Lindsay Celebritology Live: Don't...
By Liz | March 22, 2007; 8:22 AM ET | Comments (18)
Nostalgia Redux: Evil Grimace
Grimace. (Photo courtesy Wikipedia) Celebrities come in all shapes and sizes and recently, courtesy of a "Lost" episode, I was reminded of a lumpy, purplish celebrity who occupied a revered spot in my childhood pantheon of stars. No, I'm not talking about Barney or Liberace. The lump to which I refer is none other than Grimace -- McDonalds's lovable, dimwitted, milkshake-addicted pudge seen in all his goofy glory at right. Back in the 1970s, Grimace was part of an incredibly successful marketing gang comprised of french fry addicts, a thief, a grown man wearing makeup and a guy with elephant-sandwich-itis of the head. When I was being indoctrinated into the McDonald's lifestyle, Grimace was a happy fool who seemed familiar in that he had the physique of my beanbag chair and a vocabulary instantly understandable to children the world over; that is to say that he mainly communicated using...
By Liz | March 21, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (32)
Morning Mix: Britney Leaves Rehab
Headlines: Britney Spears checks out of rehab... Angelina Jolie leaves Vietnam with adopted son; tabloid publishes first photos of mother and son... Bahamian judge orders paternity test for Anna Nicole Smith's baby... Keanu Reeves grazes paparazzo with car... Adam Sandler fills in for ailing David Letterman... George Foreman to judge wanna-be inventors... Pamela Anderson says she's better off single... Halle Berry says she'll never marry again... Bernie Mac plans to retire from standup... Former Brady Christopher Knight (Peter) opens up tattoo removal company... Mary-Kate Olsen, what have you done to yourself? Rumor Mill: Allegedly drunk Vince Vaughn disturbs diners at restaurant... Was Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest's "Idol" spat scripted?... Lindsay Lohan buys dogs to keep her sober, spurns Wilmer Valderrama's new advances... Paris Hilton splits from Stavros Niarchos again. Yawn... Victoria Beckham, who can apparently read, plans to start Hollywood book club... Janice Dickinson banned from fashion shows... Ricky...
By Liz | March 21, 2007; 7:49 AM ET | Comments (25)
Reality Check: 'Dancing With the Stars'
Heather Mills and partner Jonathan Roberts, who didn't bother coordinating their outfits. (Photo courtesy ABC) If "Dancing With the Stars" hadn't debuted last night, I might have been tempted to write about this site. But ABC's wacky dance-off did return and gets our full attention today. Though, after watching the two-hour premiere, I'm thinking that site might have more entertainment value. Even a soon-to-be ex-Beatle bride sporting an artificial leg (surely ratings gold) wasn't enough to keep the show from tedium. Easy-listening covers of already cheesy songs (Huey Lewis's "The Power of Love," Denise Williams's "Let's Hear It for the Boy") and annoying bio-clips of each contestant and professional dancer didn't do much to ramp up the excitement level. Dancers were upstaged by over-the-top judge Bruno Tonioli (an Italian choreographer doing his best impression of Armand Goldman) and the entire show was eclipsed by the commercial break premiere of...
By Liz | March 20, 2007; 10:23 AM ET | Comments (33)
Morning Mix: K-Fed Launches Search Engine
Headlines: K-Fed launches his own search engine... Leonardo DiCaprio meets with Israeli PM... Bobby Brown takes a page out of the Flavor Flav playbook... Gene Simmons and wife get his-and-her facelifts... Tori Spelling says being a mom "rocks"... Shanna Moakler and Travis Barker back together... Vanessa Williams gets Hollywood Walk of Fame star... Ellen DeGeneres launching line of greeting cards... Melissa Gilbert, Patrick Swayze to star in "Little House" musical... Don't call "Sex and the City's" Chris Noth "Mr. Big"... Phil Spector sports new 'do for trial... Anna Nicole Smith paternity case judge busted for smoking pot in public... Photographer sues Woody Harrelson for alleged assault. Rumor Mill: Meg Ryan's old house too expensive for Beckhams... Kirsten Dunst dating Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell?... Did Ryan Phillippe have a sleepover at Ashlee Simpson's house?... Sean Connery wants to play James Bond's father....
By Liz | March 20, 2007; 8:33 AM ET | Comments (18)
Comment Box: Is Britney Oops Prone?
A bald Britney. (AFP/Getty Images) Photo Gallery: Britney's Changing Look Not to be witchy or judgmental, but when Britney looks for a man what exactly are the qualities she's aiming for? I mean from K-Fed to an alcoholic frontman of a little-known band. Yes, prime boyfriend material there. Okay that was witchy and judgmental, but come ON! -- Washington, D.C. Witchy and judgmental you are not, although maybe a touch on the "hypercritical" side. But here in Celebritology you and your armchair assessments of Britney (and Lindsay and Paris and Nicole) are welcome. Part of our mandate as Celebritologists is to try to make some kind of sense out of the life choices made by these people. So, when Britney Spears goes from pop goddess to tabloid poster child in the same amount of time it takes Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera to transcend teen idol status to become...
By Liz | March 19, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (31)
Morning Mix: Jacko Registers as Woman at Hotel?
Angelina Jolie carries son Pax Thien Jolie, who is in possession of some very cool shoes, in Ho Chi Minh city. (AP) Headlines: Agency says Angelina Jolie's latest adoption was not fast-tracked... Judge orders Howard K. Stern to submit to paternity test... Chris Rock says his marriage is just fine... Oprah Winfrey opens second school in South Africa... Larry King recovering after heart surgery... Taylor Hicks drops 22 pounds... "Flavor of Love" spawns second spin-off... Tara Reid opens Los Angeles restaurant, but sadly, does not name it "Cheeseburger in Taradise"... Emma Watson says she will finish final "Harry Potter" movies... Phil Spector's murder trial will be televised (trial primer)... "Survivor" Richard Hatch says prison is "horrendous"... Peter Bogdanovich accused of bribery scam... Kid Rock won't be charged with shoving woman in snowbank... Carol Burnett sues "Family Guy" for "misuse" of charwoman character... Photos: All grown up Jena Malone ("Donnie...
By Liz | March 19, 2007; 8:41 AM ET | Comments (13)
Posh Spice: Hot or Not?
Her Poshness. (Getty Images) This Friday we take a break from lists to continue a dissection of Hortense the Pointy-Faced Girl, aka Posh Spice, whose hotness quotient arose as the subject of casual debate in yesterday's Celebritology Live discussion. To quickly recap: After I characterized Posh as rat-like, one reader described Mrs. Beckham as a "hot robot," by which I suppose we're meant to draw parallels to "Cherry 2000," not this guy. From that point, the conversation seemed to neatly divide down gender lines, with women taking my view -- that she's eminently fug-worthy -- while the male portion of the audience (who I now envision as a faceless horde of underwear-clad La-Z-Boy jockeys*) seemed to consider her big time fantasy material. A disclaimer is in order: I'm not usually one to get into the hot-or-not debate, but this case is allowable, in that it provides an interesting opportunity...
By Liz | March 16, 2007; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (113)
Morning Mix: Simon Cowell Says He's Bigger Than Springsteen
Gerard Butler arrives at the London premiere of '300'. (AP) Headlines: Simon Cowell says he's bigger than Bruce Springsteen... Angelina Jolie says she plans to focus on being a mom... Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband sues Bill O'Reilly for calling Anna Nicole Smith baby claim a fake... Smith's mother seeking guardianship of baby Dannielynn (but what's all this about a native American love child?)... Heather Mills (who has been accused of crying wolf) says she'll always love Paul McCartney... Officials worried Elton John will gay-ify Tobago... Cate Blanchett signs on to Indiana Jones sequel... Bogus Wikipedia update falsely reports Sinbad's death... Regis Philbin recovering after heart surgery... Video: Carmen Electra eats a little runway... Star Jones Reynolds (who is suddenly everywhere ahead of her new Court TV show debut) says the only Viewette she keeps in touch with is Elizabeth Hasselbeck... Tonya Harding blames asthma medication for erratic behavior... Nikki...
By Liz | March 16, 2007; 8:24 AM ET | Comments (25)
Lost Analysis: If You Don't Know Claire By Now...
The usually elf-like Claire (Emilie De Ravin) does her best Neve Campbell impression. (Photo Courtesy ABC) If you haven't yet seen last night's episode of "Lost" please avail yourself of the opportunity to watch it online before proceeding downpage to take in this week's picky-point analysis from post.com movie editrix Jen Chaney and me. Liz: Jen, it happened again. The disappointment, the filler, the melodrama. Let's just say it -- the network has won. "Lost" has been turned into a nighttime soap whose only goal is to keep us hanging on for one more episode each week for as long as they can continue to sell advertising. And, damn them, they keep me coming back with final minutes like last night's view of Jack playing a Kennedy-esque game of football in the Others' village. Am I overreacting? Jen: I don't think you're overreacting necessarily. When I watch "Lost" now,...
By Liz | March 15, 2007; 10:13 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Jolie Adopts Vietnamese Boy
Headlines: Angelina Jolie completes Vietnamese adoption (Photos)... Heather Mills says she has spare leg standing by for dance show... Elton John dresses up for 60th birthday party... Johnny Depp on hiatus until daughter recovers... Paula Abdul says she and Simon Cowell are chummy in real life... Candy Spelling says she looks forward to doting on new grandson... Scarlett Johansson signs up for third Woody Allen movie... Mike Myers to play Keith Moon in Who biopic... Family says Boston singer Brad Delp committed suicide... Video: Did Lindsay Lohan run over the photog or not? You decide. Rumor Mill: Lock of Britney Spears's hair sells for $1 million... Jessica Simpson wants to adopt... Sienna Miller parties till dawn after London "Factory Girl" premiere... Solange Knowles (Beyonce's lil' sis) dating Lil' Wayne?... Drew Barrymore, collector of cool boyfriends, apparently now dating director Spike Jonze... Lance Armstrong dating designer Tory Burch. Bonus: What do...
By Liz | March 15, 2007; 7:53 AM ET | Comments (22)
Angelina Jolie, Womb Raider?
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie with son Maddox and daughter Zahara stroll in Mumbai, India in November 2006. (AP) It seems that not too long ago, if Angelina Jolie was to be criticized for anything it was for being a wild child who covered herself with tattoos, carried her (ex) husband's blood in a vial worn around her neck and, speaking of necking, laid a pretty serious kiss on her brother James at the 2000 Academy Awards. That was years ago, though, long before Jolie transformed herself into a humanitarian (serving as a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador, granting queenly interviews to Ann Curry from Namibia and writing opinion pieces for The Washington Post) and matriarch of a robust family (raising three children with partner Brad Pitt and hardly ever spotted without one of her brood in tow). But news of the impending adoption of another child, this time a 3-and-a-half-year-old...
By Liz | March 14, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Rehab Romance for Britney Spears?
Headlines: Tori Spelling gives birth to baby boy... Boxing promoter Don King to have audience with Pope... Anderson Cooper leads gang of guys sitting in for Regis Philbin during bypass break... Heather Mills says she's appearing on dance show for charity, not publicity... Jessica Simpson releasing photography book... Christina Aguilera to appear on "CSI: New York"... Chris Rock directs new Red Hot Chili Peppers video... Sarah Jessica Parker launches line of clothing... Larry Birkhead building nursery for Anna Nicole Smith's baby, turns up on "Entourage" rerun (video); lawyer requests Howard K. Stern DNA sample... Family says comedian Richard Jeni took his own life... Judge says Goldman family will get any profits from O.J. Simpson book... The Who end concert during first song... TMZ.com sets up shop inside Beltway. Rumor Mill: Britney Spears finds a rehab romance, may leave program early... Lindsay Lohan accused of running over photographer... Rosie O'Donnell and...
By Liz | March 14, 2007; 6:53 AM ET | Comments (0)
Welcome Back, Lohan
Lindsay and Michael Lohan pose for photogs in 2002. (Getty Images) Watch out, world. Today at 9 a.m. ET, one Michael Lohan reentered society. Was it only two years ago that Lohan began his stretch at New York's Collins Correctional Center after convictions for, among other things, drunk driving and attempted assault on his brother-in-law with -- and this is truly inspired -- a shoe? Those two years proved to be crucial in the life of Michael's daughter, Lindsay, as she's attempted to make the transition from Disney darling to serious actress with more than a few detours into tabloid territory along the way. As it turns out, though, Lindsay isn't the only Lohan with a flair for the dramatic. Or, overdramatic. It seems we can expect great things from Michael -- if you consider a reality TV show based on his post-prison exploits and a self-help book "great...
By Liz | March 13, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Pam and Tommy Lee, Together Again?
Headlines: Britney Spears's ex Isaac Cohen says she's in his prayers... Van Halen, R.E.M., Grandmaster Flash inducted into Rock Hall of Fame... Tori Spelling reconciles with her mom... Regis Philbin to have bypass surgery... Angelina Jolie expected to pick up Vietnamese son in a few weeks... Designer Marc Jacobs checks into rehab... Some parents say Oprah Winfrey's South African school is "too strict"... Whitney Houston beginning work on new album... Sylvester Stallone charged with importing steroids to Australia... Ashley Judd mobbed by fans in Mumbai's red light district... Kristy Swanson to play Anna Nicole Smith on "Law & Order"... Snoop Dogg held overnight in Sweden on suspicion of drug use... Former "American Idol" employee says contestant Mario Vazquez sexually harassed him... Leonardo DiCaprio's bodyguards held after scuffle with paparazzi in Israel... Eric Carmen charged with DUI... Laila Ali to marry... Group aims to debunk celebrity science claims. Rumor Mill: Pamela...
By Liz | March 13, 2007; 6:48 AM ET | Comments (0)
Comment Box: Moobs and Guilty Pleasures
Last week, inspired by a report about the growing trend of man boobs in Hollywood, we revisited the debate over Hollywood's (and our) double standard when it comes to judging celebrities based on their looks. Two important things came out of our comments that day -- the new-to-me term "Moobs" (thank you to reader CJB for that) and -- in the hopes of a little equal-opportunity snarking -- a list of fashion-challenged men-to-watch for the fabulous Heather and Jessica over at GoFugYourself.com. Heather and Jessica received the list and wanted me to share this response with you: Awesome list, thanks for sending it along -- we always welcome suggestions. You know, we do feature men as often as we can (look at any of our celebrity terror watches, for example). The problem is, most actors clean it up fairly well for the red carpet, probably because men have a more...
By Liz | March 12, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Site Offers Odds on Mills-McCartney's False Leg
Headlines: Angelina Jolie discusses her humanitarian work, shares photos from visit to Darfur refugees... Jamie Foxx, Mary J. Blige top Soul Train Awards... James Brown's body placed in S.C. crypt... Fight breaks out at Liz Hurley's Indian wedding... Rehab center says Courtney Love still owes $180,000... Busta Rhymes banned from set of New York film... Michael Jackson visits U.S. troops in Japan... Aspen ski patrol rescues lost actors Rob Morrow, Chad Lowe and Fisher Stevens (no sign of their careers, though)... The Drifters ("Under the Boardwalk") involved in serious car crash in England... Boston lead singer Brad Delp found dead in home... Suicide suspected in death of comedian Richard Jeni. Rumor Mill: Gambling site taking bets on fate of Heather Mills's leg on dance show; Mills may have reached $56 million divorce settlement... Is Britney Spears bulimic?... Did Paris Hilton have breast augmentation? (Photo)... After a reportedly successful campaign to...
By Liz | March 12, 2007; 6:53 AM ET | Comments (0)
Friday List: Sweet-Sounding Guilty Pleasures
Just admit it: We all (heart) Abba. (Copyright Torbjorn Calvero) A couple of weeks ago I was talking with one of washingtonpost.com's head honchos (a hip kind of guy who defies comparisons to Ricky Gervais or any kind of Dilbertian manager in that he is certainly above being swayed by base flattery) at a company event (whose swank factor was not at all affected by drinking wine out of paper cups) about some of the more embarrassing songs we happen to have on our iPods. What started as a passing reference to the Starland Vocal Band ("Afternoon Delight") and my current obsession with "Itchycoo Park" soon morphed into a conversational one-upsmanship featuring a smorgasbord of cheesy songs of yesteryear. Often we can't explain exactly what it is that makes a particular cheesy song so appealing. Sometimes it's an infectious chorus or a musical hook that just gets you in...
By Liz | March 9, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Eddie Van Halen Heads to Rehab
Headlines: Eddie Van Halen to enter rehab... Horses, elephants to play starring role in Liz Hurley's Indian wedding... Salma Hayek is pregnant and engaged... Johnny Depp's hospitalized daughter doing better... Madonna fails to buckle up little David Banda for SUV ride, former nanny shops tell-all book... Rolling Stones top Billboard entertainment earners list... Maggie Gyllenhaal replacing Katie Holmes in "Dark Knight"... Shia LaBeouf set to play Indiana Jones's son in sequel... Bobby Brown says D.C. radio station didn't pay his bail... Kate Winslet settles libel suit with magazine that claimed she visited a diet doctor... "Prison Break's" Lane Garrison charged in fatal crash... "Simpsons" movie to premiere in Springfield. Rumor Mill: K-Fed and the kids visit Britney Spears in rehab... Papa Joe Simpson says Britney-style breakdown would never happen to his girls... Is Gisele Bundchen pregnant with Tom Brady's child?... Suge Knight ready to fold Death Row Records....
By Liz | March 9, 2007; 8:01 AM ET | Comments (17)
'Lost' Dueling Analysis: Win/Win -- No Cheech Marin and a Few Answers
Warning: If you haven't watched last night's "Lost" yet, do so before proceeding to read an enthusiastic, yet measured, discussion of episode "Enter 77" between myself and post.com movie editrix Jen Chaney. Kate (Evangeline Lilly) and Sayid (Naveen Andrews) gun for some answers even as I flail around for a witty caption. (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: Since crashing into our living rooms three years ago, "Lost" has managed to hit a sweet spot. Its "Twin Peaks" meets conspiracy theory as acted out by Gap ad models formula appeals to a wide swath of viewers. Me, I'm in it for the hidden meanings (I practically drool every time I catch an oblique pop culture reference or yet another nod to Stephen King or "The Watchmen") and the slowly unraveling mystery, which I still believe is leading to an end as ironclad as the fate to which Desmond says we are all...
By Liz | March 8, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (61)
Morning Mix: Mills Wants £10,000 a Day from McCartney
Headlines: Rosie O'Donnell reveals depression treatment... Jay-Z sells Rocawear clothing label for $204 million... Angelina Jolie nominated for Council on Foreign Relations; Vietnamese official says Jolie adopting boy... Johnny Depp's daughter hospitalized in England... Medical examiner says he knows what killed Anna Nicole Smith (he just won't tell us yet)... Timbaland says he wants to save Britney Spears... Ciara denies dating 50 Cent... Lance Bass pens memoir... Star Jones Reynolds lands Court TV talk show... U.S. government says "Borat" is a human rights victim... Blues Traveler John Popper arrested for speeding, weapons, drugs. Rumor Mill: Heather Mills demands £10,000 a day from Paul McCartney... Is TomKat expecting a little brother for Suri?... K-Fed wants $25K from tabloid for access to birthday party... Romance blossoming between Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal?... Pierce Brosnan, Meryl Streep to helm "Mamma Mia" screen adaptation... Jennifer Aniston kicks butts... Eddie Van Halen's drinking problem scuttled...
By Liz | March 8, 2007; 7:49 AM ET | Comments (0)
Busting Hollywood's Double Standard Wide Open
We spend a lot of time here talking about hair styles, fashion flubs, physical attributes and such. But, not surprisingly, when we get on the "What was X thinking?" trip, "X" usually equals a female celebrity. (For instance, this morning's links to some seriously gnarly pictures of Christina Aguilera and Sharon Stone.) Jack Black bares his rack in 'Nacho Libre.' (Paramount Pictures) If you're into this kind of entertainment (i.e. pointing and laughing at the expense of others with too much money and too little taste), you probably -- like me -- have a well-worn Go Fug Yourself bookmark, too. (If you're not familiar with it, Fug bloggers Heather and Jessica viciously, yet hilariously, rip fashion-challenged starlets to shreds daily). Again, though, a quick scan of the "Frequent Offenders" menu reveals categories for 25 women and zero men. Not much of a revelation, I know, in a world where women...
By Liz | March 7, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (65)
Morning Mix: No Trans-Atlantic Takeout for Kanye West
Headlines: Kanye West denies ordering $3,900 trans-Atlantic takeout... Tori Spelling's bed and breakfast open for business... Bono to edit issue of Vanity Fair... MTV reality show to re-make Menudo (as if)... Marisa Tomei signs on for CBS comedy pilot... Penelope Cruz to star in next Woody Allen film... Chicago fetes Jennifer Hudson with her own day... Obi-Wan Kenobi's cloak sells for $104K... Mark Ruffalo and wife expecting... Family sues over Jimi Hendrix-themed vodka... Good Charlotte's Joel Madden investigated in battery of photographer... Video: Director Craig Brewer discusses "Black Snake Moan." Rumor Mill: Angelina Jolie's adoption plans hits a roadblock... Did Howard K. Stern admit he's not Anna Nicole Smith's baby's daddy?... Parliament told Prince William will marry... TomKat, who can't bear to be separated even one day, rumored to be buying apartment at New York's famed Dakota... Another sexy scandal for Ralph Fiennes?... Is Lindsay Lohan up to her old...
By Liz | March 7, 2007; 8:03 AM ET | Comments (21)
Celebritology 101: Celebrity Secrets Revealed!
(Courtesy Simon & Schuster, Inc.) Thanks to the proliferation of breathless blogs covering the sort of things we here in Celebritology 101 use as our primary syllabi material, we live in an age of instant gratification when it comes to getting a fresh whiff of the dirty laundry generated by our celebrity lab rats. One can hardly turn on a cable news channel or even safely check one's e-mail box without learning -- seemingly within hours, if not minutes -- that Britney Spears has whaled on a SUV with an umbrella, that Paris Hilton reportedly accessorizes her bathroom with big piles of "white powder" or that Scientology (as practiced by celebrities) is, like, weird. One almost forgets that there was a time when the Hollywood spin machine was able to keep scandalous revelations -- like sexuality, child abuse, substance abuse and even run-of-the-mill partying -- far away from the...
By Liz | March 6, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (15)
Morning Mix: Lohan Says Rehab Saved Her Life
Headlines: Lindsay Lohan says rehab saved her life... Caretaker says baby Dannielynn is "doing fine"... Simon Cowell calls Britney Spears's rehab stint an "indulgence," says he never liked Taylor Hicks... K-Fed takes the kids to Las Vegas... Madonna dresses as flapper for Kabbalah celebration... Daniel Radcliffe signs on for final two "Harry Potter" movies... Video: Former President Bush denies patting Teri Hatcher's backside... Mariah Carey* spotted filming new movie in Tennessee... Nas and Kelis sign up for new reality show... Shaq reality show targets childhood obesity... Jerry Springer to host "America's Got Talent"... John Travolta gives $15K to tornado victims... Diddy sued for alleged assault... Naomi Campbell to clean as punishment for assaulting maid... Ex-"Laguna Beach" star Jason Wahler arrested for underage drinking. Rumor Mill: Has Shar Jackson been caring for Britney Spears's kids?... Courtney Love says drugs in bathroom at Paris Hilton's birthday party... Princes pull prank on Queen...
By Liz | March 6, 2007; 7:51 AM ET | Comments (15)
My Vacation: Mariah and Dinoflagellates
Mariah was here: Vieques. (Liz Kelly for washingtopost.com) Last week, while vacationing on an island where driving directions regularly include steps like "drive down the old Navy airstrip to get to the beach," "make a left at the dog sleeping in the road (but don't hit him)" and "if you pass the cockfighting venue you've gone too far," I thought I was reasonably safe from the reach of celebrity news. Silly me. The island was Vieques and Mr. Liz and I had comfortably settled in for a week of Mojitos, reggaeton and R&R while attending a friend's wedding. About 10 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico, Vieques is probably best remembered as the site of some pretty high profile protests of the Navy's use of the island as a bombing range and ammo dump. In fact, the tiny island managed to attract a lot of international attention and...
By Liz | March 5, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Kanye West Orders Trans-Atlantic Takeout
Headlines: Kanye West orders trans-Atlantic takeout from Welsh restaurant... Anna Nicole Smith laid to rest in Bahamas... Michael Jackson charging Japanese fans $3,500 for 30-second meeting... Nicole Richie briefly hospitalized for dizziness... Forest Whitaker and and Jennifer Hudson win top honors at Image Awards...Comedy festival names Stephen Colbert "Person of the Year"...Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone says he didn't fire Tom Cruise... Insouciant Gwyneth Paltrow brags about her kids' famous friends while Brazilian journos call her husband rude... Elizabeth Hurley marries... Star Jones Reynolds to guest star on "Law & Order: SVU"... Nicole Kidman to cameo on "Nip/Tuck"... David Beckham injures knee in soccer match... Jared Leto breaks nose during concert... Stolen painting found in Steven Spielberg's art collection... Kelis arrested in Miami for disorderly conduct. Rumor Mill: Britney Spears doing better after last week's reported suicide attempt... Victoria Beckham moving hairdresser to Los Angeles....
By Liz | March 5, 2007; 7:26 AM ET | Comments (29)
Morning Mix: Bobby Brown Back on the Block
Headlines: D.C.-area radio station pays off Bobby Brown's back child support bill in exchange for a week of airtime with the crooner... Organizer plans "very pink" memorial and burial service for Anna Nicole Smith... Rapper Foxy Brown back on the street after judge opts to give her one last chance... Chris Rock and wife, Malaak, choose "married and bored" over "single and lonely"... Rolling Stone downgrades Beyonce's new video for "Upgrade U." We do remember the reaction to her earlier video from the B'Day album, right?... Johnica smooches in public... Heather Mills worries artificial leg might come off while tripping the light fantastic on "Dancing with the Stars" (see sixth item)... Britney wears wedding band-like ring during short release from rehab to attend AA meeting and group says postpartum depression may explain her recent crazy behavior... Madonna clothing line to hit the racks at H&M... Hot new Bond actor, Daniel...
By | March 2, 2007; 7:47 AM ET | Comments (0)
'Lost' Analysis: Hurley's Magic Bus
With Liz out this week, Jen Chaney has parked her VW bus in the Celebritology spot reserved for "Lost" analysis. Read on for a breakdown of last night's Hurley-O-Rama. As always, SPOILERS FOLLOW SO DON'T CONTINUE IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED YET. After last week's episode -- a.k.a. the Bai Ling Debacle -- I was hoping that the "Lost" plot development train would get back on track. But once again we were treading Dharma Initiative water (or was that beer?) last night, with a mildly entertaining episode that delivered scarcely any meaty information about The Others or the island's umpteen unsolved mysteries. Still, this Hurley-centric installment about the father he lost and the beat-up VW bus he found on the island delivered a few decent moments. Among them: Hurley's touching graveside speech to his lost Libby; a cameo appearance by Cheech Marin as Hurley's pops; the reappearance of beloved dog Vincent;...
By Jen Chaney | March 1, 2007; 10:51 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Diaper 1, Jake Gyllenhaal 0
Headlines: Diaper 1, Jake Gyllenhaal 0... Olsen twins top under-21 entertainment earners... Jeff Goldblum stalker (oxymoron?) given restraining order... AP headline: 'Miss USA Talks About Tumultuous Reign' (oxymoron?)... Picasso paintings stolen from granddaughter's Paris home... Will Sean Combs be ruled the real Diddy?... Sopranos star drops out of Dancing With the Stars... Gisele Bundchen wants a baby of her own... Katherine Heigl stuck in McHospital. Rumor Mill: K-Fed ultimatum got Britney back in rehab... Jacko Does Vegas? New Las Vegas resident Michael Jackson considers Strip show... Governator to appear in Terminator 4?... Pete Doherty is Kate Moss's new live-in....
By Michael Corones | March 1, 2007; 8:46 AM ET | Comments (0)
