Jimmy Kimmel. You've had your own late night show for how long..? And I still don't get you. WHO ARE YOU?? Are you really supposed to be funny..?
Well, Jimmy Kimmel finally managed to make me chuckle last night, when he was featured on Jay Leno's 10 at 10 portion.
Some highlights include:
Jay: What's the best prank you ever pulled?
Jimmy: I think the best prank I ever pulled was I told a guy that 5 years from now, I'm gonna give you my show. And then when the 5 years came, I gave it to him and then I took it back instantly. It was hilarious. I think he works at FOX or something now.
Jay: Ever order something off the tv?
Jimmy: Like how NBC ordered your show off the tv?
Jay: What's the most number of lap dances you've had in one night?
Jimmy: Jay, my mother is watching this show, so. Actually, no wait a minute, this show's cancelled right, nobody's watching this show.
Check the whole awkward questionnaire here:
I love how all these other late night hosts are getting their little jabs in. Team Conan FTW, ya'll!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Jimmy Kimmel Finally Managed to Make Me Laugh
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Update: Team Conan
Ok. This will be my last post on this topic, I swear. But as an update to my Leno vs. Conan post late last week, I am posting the following very eloquent response to the debacle articulated by the man in the middle himself, Conan O'Brien. Everyone, meet class. As if I didn't love him anymore, Conan's letter is the epitome of grace and class, all with a touch of his signature humor. I think many of you probably read this already, but I'm re-posting because I want everyone to know what a stand-out guy I think this dude is. What struck me most from this response is just how much Conan, who has only been hosting the Tonight Show for 7 months, understand and respect the history and legacy of the Tonight Show institution than NBC and his predecessor host Leno does. Tsk tsk. Honestly, Leno should be ashamed. He's the one who should be graciously giving the spotlight back to Conan, and this discussion shouldn't even be happening if he was half the classy person Conan is. People of Earth: Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over the Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both. But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule. Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy. So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of the Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn’t matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more. There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work. Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it’s always been that way.
Conan's Response:
In the last few days, I’ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I’ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I’ve been absurdly lucky. That said, I’ve been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.
Yours,
Conan
Thursday, December 31, 2009
2009 Entertainers of the Year: #1
Last year I bestowed the honor to the multitalented Tina Fey, and this year, the honor goes to... TAYLOR SWIFT!
Goodness gracious, who had a better year this year than Taylor?? She solidified herself as a bona fide star, transcending above the country music genre and outselling pretty much every artist in every category this year (who is not named Michael Jackson). After supporting other artists on their tours in previous years, her first solo tour sold out in minutes (and I know this firsthand cause I was not able to get tickets for her show... SAD) :( She became the youngest artist ever to win Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year. On top of winning AMAs, Grammys, and every other award throughout the year. She proved to be charming and funny, hosting the best episode of Saturday Night Live this season. And of course, who can forget the infamous Kanye-gate, which could have been a complete disaster had it not been for the complete grace and class this 20 year old displayed throughout the whole thing. Not to mention, her album, Fearless, is pretty darn good, people.
So... there you have it, my pick for Entertainer of the Year (she is also Billboard's pick, as well as AP's pick). As a fan, I'm looking forward to 2010 for her, as she is currently writing new songs for a new record due out sometime later this year, and being up for numerous Grammys coming up in February. Rock on, Taylor Swift!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
2009 Entertainers of the Year: #3 and # 2!
#3) Jay-Z and Lady Gaga (tie)
Two artists who are completely different from each other (in every possible way), one a musical legend practically, and one who burst onto the scene in the year, dominated the charts in 09.
Jay-Z released his 11th studio album, The Blueprint 3, in September, and was met with favor from critics and fans alike. It became his 11th album to reach #1 on the Billboard charts, surpassing Elvis Presley's previous record with the most #1 albums. It also is the second best selling hip hop album of all time. The album has spawned hit after hit, but most notably, produced what is now NYC's unofficial anthem: Empire State of Mind. The Jay-Z train does not seem to be slowing into the New Year, he is embarking on a nationwide tour for the album, which will go well into 2010 (I'll be at the March show in Jersey, hollla!).
Lady Gaga is probably one of the most talked about artist of the year, and not only for her music. She pretty much became a cultural phenomenon, with all of her crazy outfits, even crazier performances, and, let's face it, catchy songs. In the annual Google zeitgeist, the Haus of Gaga was the most searched image of the year. Though her debut album came out in the summer of 08, but it seems like 09 is when she really caught on fire, with the string of hits-- Poker Face, Paparazzi, Bad Romance. I'm slightly scared of her, but I do kinda enjoy her antics. She's also embarking on a concert tour for her recently released album The Fame Monster, so there is no way we won't be seeing more of her in 2010.
#2) Michael Jackson
What can be said about Michael Jackson that hasn't already been covered a billion times in the past six months since his untimely passing in June? The world lost a true pop cultural icon, but ironically he ended up entertaining us even when he is no longer with us. His death brought upon hours and hours of coverage, surrounding his mysterious life and death, but more importantly, reminded us all of the impact he has had on the pop culture landscape. Reissues of his albums and singles sold through the roof, people lined up to pay tribute, millions tuned into his funeral coverage. And This is It, a concert film made from the footage of his This is It tour rehearsals was released in October, doing well at the box office. The man in the mirror might be gone, but in his passing Michael Jackson proved that he is a true legacy that spans generational gaps.
Monday, December 28, 2009
2009 Entertainers of the Year: #5 and #4!
Last year, I created a list of my top 5 entertainers of 2008, and this year, I'm doing the same for the year 2009. I know we only have 4 more days left before the year's end, so before the week's end, I will post the 5 entertainers who have made their mark in pop culture. Last year's #5 went to Robert Downey Jr., and this year it is...
#5) The Glee cast.
No other tv show this season, new or returning, had as much buzz around it as the dramedy musical Glee. FOX took a chance on this one-of-a-kind show, and it paid off. While it is not a ratings juggernaut, it does average a healthy 8 million viewers a week, and the songs performed on the show are consistently in the top 25 iTunes songs chart. Sold out mall tours, the cast singing the National Anthem at the World Series, succeessful release of 2 soundtracks-- the show is heading strong into the new year, having been picked up for the rest of the season, no problem. Funny, smart, full of heart, and of course, those musical numbers! Such entertaining stuff. Though the show will not be returning until April 2010, we have plenty to tide us over (seriously, buy/download the soundtracks, STAT) as well as looking forward to the rest of the season when it does return (more musical numbers per episode! a Madonna-centric episode! surprise guest stars!). If the Glee phenomenon keeps going the way it has been, I would not be surprised to see them on this list again next year.
#4) Sandra Bullock
Like last year's #4 Britney Spears, Sandra Bullock had hell of a comeback this year. Ok, so she never really went away anywhere to have a comeback, but she basically solidified her place as a money-making leading lady with 2 big successful films this year. In the summer she starred in a romantic comedy called The Proposal, which surpassed everyone's expectations by bringing in over $300 million worldwide. Her latest effort, The Blind Side, is already on its way to raking over $200 million at the box office. Not only has she proven to be bankable, but she has just been nominated for 2 Golden Globes for each of the movies, and she's been steadily garnering Oscar buzz for the Blind Side. Not bad for an actress in her mid-40s, right? And a consistently working one at that! I personally really love her, so I'm super glad for all of the success she has had this year.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Happy 40th Birthday, Sesame Street!
By now you may have noticed the iconic Sesame Street muppets take over Google in the past couple of days. Big Bird, Cookie, Bert & Ernie, Oscar, Elmo, The Count, and the whole gang have drawn attention for being the featured Google Doodles, and in addition to that, they have been EVERYWHERE in the press. The reason for all of the hooplah is that Sesame Street is turning 40 years old today! November 10, 1969 was when the first episode aired, and so the 40th season kicks off today with the much publicized Michelle Obama appearance. Technically, Big Bird has been 6 for 40 years and Elmo is a forever 3 year old, but logic aside, the "World's Longest Street" has been entertaining and educating kids for 40 years, in more than 120 countries (some of them with their own versions of the show), with millions of people who are "Sesame graduates."
In addition to the Google Doodles, the celebrations roll on. Yesterday 64th and Columbus (right outside the Sesame Workshop offices) was named '123 Sesame Street,' and November 10 is now Sesame Street Day. Here's to another 40 years (and more) of making a difference in children's lives!
Some fun links:
Google blog's post on the creation of the Google Doodles, love the behind the scenes photo shoot!
Sesame Street: A Celebration of 40 Years of Life on the Street A giant coffee table book is a treasure trove of everything Sesame. We got this in the office yesterday, and I have to say the book is pretty amazing. And really heavy.
25 Classic Sesame Street Visits Celebrities love the Street: this season will feature celebrities such as Jason Mraz (HOORAH), Cameron Diaz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ricky Gervais, Kobe Bryant, Adam Sandler, etc.
Sesame Street's official YouTube channel: I'm LOVING the Mad Men parody!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Disney Princesses, Marvel-ized
Last month Disney announced that it bought Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion, causing somewhat of a stir in the entertainment business. I mean, $4 billion is A LOT of money, recession or not. But not only that, a lot of folks wondered if Marvel properties would be getting the Disney treatment, with Disney stepping in and "ruining" the beloved comic book heroes. Only time will tell just what Disney will do with its new purchase, but in the meantime, an illustrator named Jeffrey Thomas reimagined some of Disney's most noted characters as what they might look like if they were to receive the Marvel treatment. The results are dark, creepy, and ingenious. Amazing! He did this way before the deal even happened, but it's so interesting to see what our lovely Disney princess heroines look like when they are gritty, grim, and gangsta. (holla alliteration!) Check out these incredible drawings, and peruse through the rest of his artwork at his blog here.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Kanye West on The Jay Leno Show
In a recent post, Jen wrote an open letter to Kanye West, calling him out on being a total douchebag at the VMA's. Well, soon after stealing the mic and sharing his opinions during what was supposed to be Taylor Swift's moment, Kanye popped a CAPS LOCK blog post at Taylor Swift, APOLOGIZING IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE THAT'S HOW 'YE DOES IT! I guess after he calmed down, Kanye replace the CAPS LOCK post with something a bit more sincere: I feel like Ben Stiller in Meet the Parents when he messed up everything and Robert DeNiro asked him to leave…That was Taylor’s moment and I had no right in any way to take it from her. I am truly sorry.
Originally slated to appear alongside Jay-Z and Rihanna as the musical act for The Jay Leno Show, Kanye actually sat down with Jay Leno to discuss the VMA incident:
I love how Kanye came out on stage very apprehensively, and not the usual "I AM THE BEST" swagger like he usually does. So just seeing that in him (you know, besides him being on the verge of tears after Jay Leno asked him about his mom - which btw, Jay Leno deserves an Emmy for asking, because 'Ye is cuhraaaazy) made me believe that Kanye is sincerely sorry.
Alright, let's move on, folks.
Monday, September 14, 2009
An Open Letter to Kanye West
Dear Kanye,
Oh what can be said that hasn't already been said before? You need to learn to shut up. I'm actually a huge fan of your work. Your Late Registration and Graduation albums are one of my favorite albums of all time, I like reading your blog (the use of all-caps aside), and most of the time I am just amused by your 'holier than thou' attitude and antics. But, uh. Stealing the spotlight away from a 19 year old girl on what was supposed to be her shining moment? Not cool, dude. I think it's fine you think that you're the coolest thing since sliced bread and that everything you deem worthy is also the coolest thing since, you. I too have my strong opinions and I too like to express them whenever I see fit. But I think there is a difference between me telling my friends why I think Britney is the greatest entertainer (haters to the left please) or why objectively speaking, Robert Pattinson is hot sex on a stick, and me standing up in front of millions of people to assert that Beyonce made the greatest video EVER, in the middle of Taylor's freakin acceptance speech. How old are you again??
I mean, this really isn't the first time you've done this. You throw a temper tantrum everytime you don't win something you believe you should have: rushing the stage and ranting about how Touch the Sky should've won Best Video at the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards, walking out after losing Best New Artist at the AMAs in 2004. And yeah, those things were just as terrible and as much talked about, but something about taking the spotlight away from an ecstatic Taylor, who was in the middle of thanking her fans for taking a chance on country music was.. just brutal. THANKS for making the entire audience feel super awkward, and yeah, you deserve the 0 wins and the booing you received the entire night. Oh, and I'm sure Beyonce was beyond thrilled that you pulled the most dickheaded move in defense of her name. So... no, I don't really care that you apologized to Taylor and her mom, or that you blogged about how sorry you are in all caps (BTW, THIS GETS ANNOYING REALLY FAST).
Congrats Kanye, you are the frontrunner for Douchebag of the Year. While the whole thing is unfortunate and could have been completely avoidable, I am glad it happened for 2 reasons. 1: I heart Taylor Swift and am glad more people are now on Team Taylor (and you know what Kanye? Her video is damn good and yeah, I voted for it), and 2: it gave Beyonce to be the classiest lady ever by giving back Taylor her moment to shine during her speech. I am gonna end on that note. Watch and learn, Kanye, watch and learn.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Beyonce vs. Kelly Clarkson
Sorry for the lack of updates this week, folks! Julia and I've been busy at work... =P
Anyhoos. So the big controversy in the pop music world right now is the media-induced feud between Beyoncé and Kelly Clarkson. Beyoncé's single Halo has been out for months, climbing up the radio charts. The song was written by Ryan Tedder, who is a singer-songwriter and a member of the group OneRepublic. (I looove Leona Lewis's Bleeding Love which he wrote, as well as my current pop obsession at the moment, Jordin Sparks's Battlefield, which he also wrote.) Well Mr. Tedder is in deep poop poop with these ladies, as people have pointed out that his song Halo sounds exactly the same as Kelly Clarkson's new single, Already Gone, which he also wrote. Kelly is not happy about this, going on public record, "It sucks, but it's one of those things I have no control over. I already made my album. At this point, the record company can do whatever they want with it. It's kind of a shitty situation, but ... you know, you learn."
Of course, Ryan has released a statement of his own: "They are two entirely different songs conceptually, melodically, & lyrically and I would never try to dupe an artist such as Kelly Clarkson or Beyoncé into recording over the same musical track, the idea is both hurtful and absurd." I freakin agree. Am I the only person who thinks that these two songs aren't as identical sounding as EVERYONE is making it out to be?! I love Halo, I love Already Gone. I don't think they are the same song. Listen for yourself:
Kelly
Beyonce
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Omg, Madonna.
Madonna is a monster. Look at those arms! WTF! Completely unnatural, completely unnecessary, and completely disgusting! I don't care if you are Madonna, no 50 year old woman, nay, no human being, should have arms like that. EW!
On a related note, I love this article in NYMag, about the writer's experience of being a fan of the pop star through the ups and downs. It reminds me a lot of my love for a certain other pop star you all know I have an obsession with. Holla!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Monday laughs
This cracked me up on this otherwise bleh Monday. I freakin used to love Where in the World is Carmen San Diego! One of my college friends supposedly was on the show and got pretty far, and I still ask her to produce the tape evidence of it from time to time. They should really resurrect this show, are you listening Nick/Disney/Cartoon?!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Michael Jackson Memorial Coverage
I have to say, if I weren't at work today, I'd totally be watching all of the MJ memorial coverage being held at the Staples Center in LA. I know it's overkill, but I actually do think it's fitting and appropriate for an artist whose influence is deeply ingrained into the fabric of the pop culture we know today. If you're sick of all the Michael Jackson coverage, now might be a good time to pick up a book to read, cause it's going to dominate the airwaves for awhile. Here is a rundown of what you can expect to see today and tonight (courtesy of Cynopsis):
- ABC Charlie Gibson will anchor live coverage titled Remembering Michael Jackson at 1p ET. Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters will co-anchor a special edition of 20/20 tonight at 9p ET followed by Primetime: Family Secrets at 10p ET, reporting on Jackson's children. Cynthia McFadden will also anchor Nightline from the Staples Center.
- BET Full day of coverage titled Michael Jackson: In Remembrance starting with an encore episode of 106 & Park at 9a ET with Jackson videos and more; at 1030a ET, BET will re-air Forever the King: A Tribute to Michael Jackson followed by an encore airing of Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough: Michael Jackson Special at 11a ET. BET's News team will begin its live memorial coverage at 12p to 4p ET from both L.A. and New York. BET will re-air Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough: Michael Jackson Special at 4p ET and 106 & Park with more tributes to Jackson at 6p ET.
- CBS Maggie Rodriguez and Harry Smith will anchor the Early Show today from the Staples Center. CBS News anchor Katie Couric will lead the network's live coverage of the memorial service at 1p ET from the Staples Center and anchor a special 48 Hours at 10p.
- CNN Anderson Cooper, Larry King, Don Lemon and Soledad O'Brien to host live memorial coverage from L.A. while Campbell Brown and Roland Martin anchor live from New York, beginning at 12p ET. CNN's coverage will also be simulcast on CNN International.
- E! Begins its Jackson programming at 7a ET, broadcasting its coverage worldwide starting with an updated E! True Hollywood Story about Jackson and the E! Entertainment Special: Michael Jackson, an authorized documentary about Jackson. E! will have reporters doing live cut-ins throughout the morning from various locations and in-studio. E!'s live memorial coverage from inside the Staples Center begins at 1p ET/10a PT and will also be simulcast on EOnline.
- FOX News Channel Shepard Smith will anchor live coverage while Megyn Kelly leads live coverage of the memorial for FOX Broadcasting, both at 1p ET. Tonight, Greta Van Susteren will broadcast her show from L.A.
- MTV, MTV.com, VH1, VH1.com, VH1 Classic and VH1 Soul Extended coverage of the memorial service today starting at 12p ET/9a PT. During the hour prior to the service, MTV and VH1 will air a cadre of Jackson's most memorable videos, performances and interviews with reporting from the memorial site by MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway among other correspondents from the networks. The channels will then offer live and commercial free coverage from the memorial service at 1p-230p ET/10a-1130a PT. Additionally, MTV's 28th birthday on August 1 will become a day-long celebration of "Michael Jackson TV" as the network honors the "King of Pop's" music legacy reaching more than a half billion households in more than 160 countries worldwide.
- NBC Meredith Vieira will broadcast live for Today at the Staples Center and NBC News' Brian Williams will anchor the network's live memorial coverage at 1p ET. Chris Jansing will lead MSNBC's memorial live coverage.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
The Puppedential Debate with Anderson Cooper
Unless you were living under a rock this week, you probably know that the Obamas has made the move to D.C., though, not yet into the White House. With the inauguration in less than 2 weeks, everyone is curious about how the Obamas will adapt to living in the White House .. and what dog they are going to freaking get!
The Daily Show did a great bit about the question on everyone's mind, featuring Anderson Cooper:
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
2008 Entertainers of the Year: 1) Tina Fey
Well, kiddies, we made it to #1 on my countdown for Entertainer of the Year. Comedian/leading actress/writer Tina Fey beat out Twilight, the Beijing Olympics, Britney Spears, and Robert Downey Jr. for the title. The Associated Press actually stole my thunder last week when they announced her as their pick for Entertainer of the Year. And with good reason! In 2008 alone, Tina won an Emmy, continued producing/writing/acting on 30 Rock, was a leading voice in the Writer's Strike, proved she had star power to open a Hollywood movie, and, who can forget, turned in one of the most memorable impressions EVER as Alaskan governor Sarah Palin.
Let's see just how awesome 2008 was to Tina. In April her first starring role in a film was released, and Baby Mama went on to gross over $60 million at the box office. At the Emmy Awards in September, she won her first acting Emmy for 30 Rock, effectively squashing talk that she's just not that great of an actress. 30 Rock, a show she executive produces and writes for as well, went on to win for Best Writing and Best Comedy Series. And to prove that she has star power- earlier this year, she talked about wanting Oprah to guest star on 30 Rock, and well, it totally happened. In addition, she became $5 million richer, with a sweet little book deal.
But really, even without all of the stuff I listed, she would've taken home the Entertainer of the Year title for one of the greatest political impressions of all time- her take on Sarah "You Betcha!" Palin. Her cameos on Saturday Night Live (where she was the first female head writer until she left in 2006) gave the show some of its best ratings in a LONG time, as well as helping 30 Rock's ratings in return. In a year that could be defined by the exciting presidential race, Fey's Palin impression made political sketches and impressions as relevant as the real-life candidates themselves. It's hard to be simultaneously entertaining while giving people something to really think about, and that is what Tina Fey's Sarah Palin was. I love her because she is more than just a pretty face. She is smart, she is a writer, she is a nerd, she is Entertainer of the Year.
Monday, December 29, 2008
2008 Entertainers of the Year: 2) The Twilight Phenomenon
Much has already been discussed on this blog about the Twilight series, both the books and the film. For restoring interest in reading again, the Entertainer of the Year title goes to the 4 books that make up the Twilight series: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. For the author who created the most talked about fictional characters we've seen in awhile, the Entertainer of the Year title goes to Stephenie Meyer. For the actors who made those characters come to life on the big screen and made tween girls squeal with delight, the Entertainer of the Year title goes to Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and the rest of the Twilight cast. And for the millions of teen girls, not-so-teen-anymore girls, and everyone else who took part in the phenomenon, the Entertainer of the Year title also goes to you. You can see where I'm going with this? Collectively, everyone and everything involved with Twilight mania is my pick for 2008 Entertainer of the Year #2 spot.
The Twilight phenomenon is actually nothing new, but it reached its peak in 2008. The first book was published back in 2005 to a lot of fanfare, leading to 3 sequels, the last of which was released this past August to a frenzy. Books don't usually drive people in droves to to their nearest bookstore, so the fact that the last book in the series, Breaking Dawn, sold 1.3 million copies in the first day of its release is super impressive. And of course, we had the film version of Twilight, which also broke all kinds of crazy records when it was released in November. By mid-December, Twilight has grossed over $175 million. It has also made superstars out of the young cast, especially Robert Pattinson, who made girls all over the country swoon and faint with his every move, and who now regularly graces the pages of US Weekly and other tabloids.
It doesn't look like the Twilight mania will die down anytime soon in 2009. Production/filming of the second movie, New Moon, is set to begin in March, with a goal of a November release. With director/cast shakeups already, the film is going to be much talked about throughout the year even before it is released. So, Twilight fans, congratulations on being a part of a huge pop culture phenomenon, and see you back here next year!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
2008 Entertainers of the Year: 3) 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics
What to say about the month of August '08 other than that it was freakin' awesome. And it was so awesome for one reason- the Beijing Olympics, or the Games of the XXIX Olympiad as it is officially known. For 16ish glorious days, we were treated to a barrage of 10,500 athletes, 302 events, 28 sports, 43 new world records and 132 new Olympics records set. In the US, NBC Universal paid lots of money for the sole rights of broadcasting the Olympics, and it paid off- the Summer Games became the most viewed event in American TV history, with 211 million people tuning in for the 16 days of coverage. Worldwide, some 4.7 billion viewers watched the Games, compared to 3.9 billion who tuned into the 2004 Athens Games.
The 2008 Summer Olympics was so entertaining for numerous reasons. We had the stars- the record breaking Michael Phelps, the "World's Fastest Man" Usain Bolt, the director of the spectacular Opening Ceremony Zhang Yimou. We had the heartbreak- Chinese hurdler/national hero Liu Xiang unable to compete in his home country due to a busted Achilles tendon, US men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon's father in law dying of wounds from a knife-wielding man on the first full day of competition. And oh, the controversies- people protesting China's human rights abuses and crackdown in Tibet, which made the Olympic torch relay difficult, threats of terrorist attacks, and boycotts before the Games, and of course, questioning the age of the Chinese women's gymnast team, most of whom barely looked 12, let alone the minimum competing age of 16.
All in all, controversies and pre-Games worries aside, the 2008 Beijing Olympics is widely received to be a logistical success, as well as boosting the national pride of the Chinese people, who fought so hard to be a host of the Games. I was not as invested in the Athens Games 4 years ago, and so the 2008 Games made me realize just how amazing the Olympics are. The dedication and perseverance of the athletes, who spend pretty much 4 years of their lives training and training for this one moment on the world's biggest stage, it's pretty amazing to think about. And it shined the spotlight on some of my faves- the 41 year old swimmmer Dara Torres and the bubbly gymnast Shawn Johnson- proving that the Olympics really are about anyone and everyone- young and old, from all walks of life and from all corners of the earth. Amazing. See you in London, 2012!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
2008 Entertainers of the Year: 4) Britney Spears
Are you surprised? I think not. Just like Robert Downey Jr., B. Spears has had a hell of a comeback this year (she says she doesn't like that word, but really, who are we kidding). She started 2008 in the psych ward, which cost her custody of her sons and forced her father to become the conservator of her estate, effectively ending her freedom. Up to that point, every time she did something bad (shaving off her head, beating up a paparazzi car with an umbrella, the 2007 MTV Music Video Awards performance), I'd be horrified, asking myself if things could get any worse. And then she'd go and do something that answered my question with a resounding YES. Except...
Starting in February, all of the unflattering paparazzi shots of her stumbling out of nightclubs and not wearing underwear started being replaced with semi-flattering shots of her doing things like going to the dance studio. Going into the recording studio. Going to Bally's and working out. Reconnecting with her old manager Larry Rudolph and her formerly estranged parents. And then came her well-received 2 guest appearances on How I Met Your Mother. Well, things really started looking uphill from there. She won 3 MTV Music Video Awards in September, her single "Womanizer" hit #1 in October, MTV aired a much talked about documentary called "Britney: For the Record" in November, and her 6th studio album, Circus, was released on her 27th birthday in December. The album sold over 500,000 copies its first week, easily doubling the first-week sales of her last effort, Blackout.
Hopefully 2009 will be another good year for Ms. Spears. She is starting her worldwide tour in March (I'll see you at the 3/14 show in Newark!!), and after that, who knows. Like Robert Downey Jr., Britney had done everything she possibly could to ruin her career, yet she's managed to turn her mess of a life around and show the world what she is capable of. Move over Rihanna, Katy Perry, and anyone else who was just keeping the Princess of Pop seat warm for her triumphant return. Britney Spears is a phoenix- just when you think she's down and out, she rises from the ashes better than ever. Take that, bitches.
Monday, December 22, 2008
2008 Entertainers of the Year: 5) Robert Downey Jr.
My life = pop culture and entertainment. It's really the only thing I know, love, and can talk at length about without ever getting sick of it. So it's fitting that since it is the end of the year, and 2008 was, as entertaining as ever, that I have put together my list of the top entertainers of the year. A single person or a phenomenon, each of my top five has played a part in making their mark on pop culture this year.
The number 5 spot belongs to actor Robert Downey Jr., who had a hell of a comeback year in 2008. After a tumultuous period in the late 90s where he was arrested numerous times on drug related charges, it's good to see someone get clean and put his talent to good use. The part of Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, was practically written for him, and great reviews and a great performance from Downey opened the 2008 summer blockbuster season with a bang. Iron Man made $98 million in its opening weekend, and worldwide, it has brought in over $500 million. He soon followed that up with Tropic Thunder, another well-received film in which he puts on 'blackface' and portrays a method actor playing an African American soldier.
Though Iron Man and Tropic Thunder came out in the summer, Downey is still reveling in the success of the two films. This month, Iron Man has topped many critics' best of the year lists, and he's received both Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations for his performance in Tropic Thunder. He is currently shooting Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes, and next year will start work on Iron Man 2. After spending years doing everything possible to ruin his career, it's good to see this movie star back on top.
Monday, November 24, 2008
What a [Twilight] weekend!
"Twilight takes a big bite out of the box office"
"Twilight has bite at the box office"
"Moviegoers enter "Twilight" zone at the box office"
"Twilight: early box office is bloody good"
"Twilight sucks in Fangirls for $70.6 Mil Debut"
Am I the only one disappointed with the slew of headlines regarding the success of Twilight at the box office? I would've imagined, with its vampire theme, you would've seen a lot more of the following:
"Twilight drains the life out of its competitors"
"Twilight makes a killing this weekend"
"Twilight sinks teeth into the box office"
As for my review... Well, I definitely don't recommend the movie to you if you haven't read the book. There are some things the movie does better than the book (cutting out unnecessary and repetitive scenes, pacing the action/suspense throughout, UM the casting of Robert Pattinson), but I think to truly understand the intense relationship of the 2 main characters, as well as to appreciate the cheesiness of the dialogue, reading the book first is best. And as with any book-to-movie adaptations, there are certain things that can never live up to what you imagined it would be like (in Twilight's case, 2 words: sparkling skin). So, I give Twilight a B-. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it very much. I'm just being objective here.
And as proud as I am that a female director made the film, being not a fan of her work in general (I kinda hated Thirteen), I hope that the next one is made by someone other than Catherine Hardwicke. Maybe then we can move away from emo teen angst (though, I guess it is fair to say that Twilight is a bit emo teen angst) and more action, Blockbuster, big budget film making. Oh, and duh, MORE R.PATTINSON!! One more thing, check this NYMag slideshow out, probably my favorite thing written on this subject.
